美國年度報告:中国軍隊現代化重点在南海和東海

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

中国軍近代化「南・東シナ海に重点」米年次報告

2014年06月06日 11時55分

　【ワシントン＝今井隆】米国防総省は５日、中国の軍事・安全保障に関する年次報告書を公表した。

　中国が進めている軍の近代化は「台湾海峡有事に加え、南シナ海・東シナ海での潜在的な有事への準備に重点が置かれている」と分析し、その拡張主義が米国の同盟国を含む周辺国との「摩擦の原因になっている」と指摘した。

　沖縄県の尖閣諸島について報告書では、「日本の施政下にある」と明記した。また、中国が東シナ海に設定した防空識別圏の運用に関し、「容認しない」と引き続き拒否する方針を示した。

　中国の軍事費については、「透明性が欠けている」と繰り返し批判し、２０１３年の国防費は公表されている１１９５億ドル（約１２兆２２３６億円）より２１％も多い１４５０億ドル（約１４兆８３２０億円）を超えると見積もった。外国製の武器や装備の調達を除外していることなどを要因に挙げている。

　海洋権益の獲得に向けて増強を続ける海軍では、東シナ海や南シナ海をにらんだ装備として、軽量級の新型艦艇コルベット「０５６型」の配備を進めていると分析し、「１３年に９隻を導入した。さらに２０～３０隻を建造するだろう」と記した。初の国産空母就役は２０年代初頭、初の強襲揚陸艦建造は２０年までに行われると予想した。

(試譯文)

On the 5^th (June), the Pentagon announced its annual report on China’s military and security.

It analyzed that the army modernization in China was advancing towards “putting emphasis on the preparation for the potential emergency in South China Sea and the East China Sea in addition to the Taiwan Strait emergency", and indicated that China’s expansion principle was the cause for "friction with neighboring countries including the American allies".

About the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture the report wrote clearly that "it is under the administration of Japan". Moreover, about the setting up of the air defense identification zone in the East China Sea by China, the US continued to reject it by saying that "it was not recognized".

About the Chinese war expenditure, the report repeatedly criticized it as "lacking in transparency", and estimated that the national defense expenditure had exceeded 145 billion dollars (about 14,832 billion yen), which was 21% more than the 119,500 million dollars (about 12,223,600 million yen) released for 2013. The reason mentioned was that foreign-made equipment supply and arms etc. were excluded.

About the navy which had continuous reinforcement towards acquisition of sea rights and interests, the report analyzed it as advancing the disposition of a lightweight new style warship corvette "056 type", the equipment used to watch over the East China Sea and South China Sea. It described that “in 2013 nine boats were introduced. Further 20 - 30 boats would probably be built". The first domestic aircraft carrier would start service by the beginning of the 2020s while the construction of the first amphibious assault ship would be completed by 2020.

It is interesting to note that China’s national defense expenditure could have exceeded 145 billion dollars.