台灣提升南海脆弱前哨據點海上巡邏能力

台北，9月24日（路透）— 台灣政府表示，為因應中國活動增加，台灣已提升在有主權爭議的南海東沙群島（Pratas Islands）周邊海域的海上巡邏能力，包括定期派遣較大型船艦前往當地。TAIPEI, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan has upgraded its maritime patrol capacity around the Pratas Islands in the disputed South China Sea, including regularly sending larger ships there, the government said, responding to an increase in Chinese activities.

中國主張民主治理的台灣是其領土，台北政府拒絕接受這項立場。過去5年來，中國藉由增加在台灣周邊的軍事存在對台灣施壓。China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a position the government in Taipei rejects. China has pressured Taiwan by increasing its military presence around the island over the past five years.

由台灣控制的東沙群島大致位於台灣南部與香港之間。安全專家認為，由於東沙群島距離台灣超過400公里（250英里），容易遭到中國攻擊。Lying roughly between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands are seen by security experts as vulnerable to Chinese attack due to their distance — more than 400 km (250 miles) — from Taiwan.

台灣海巡署週三晚間在聲明中表示，東沙海域整體巡防與執法能量已「全面升級」。In a statement late on Wednesday, Taiwan's Coast Guard said its overall patrol and enforcement capacity in Pratas waters has been "comprehensively upgraded".

海巡署並表示，隨著一項碼頭工程於7月完工，新造100噸級巡防艇已正式進駐東沙，「大幅強化近岸巡邏能力與即時機動應處能量」。With the completion of a wharf project in July, a newly-built 100-tonne-class patrol boat has been formally stationed at Pratas, "significantly enhancing nearshore patrol capabilities and immediate mobile response capacity", it added.

此外，大型巡防艦艇也定期部署至東沙周邊海域巡邏，展現「強大的多層次嚇阻與機動執法能力」。Additionally, large patrol vessels are being regularly deployed to patrol waters around Pratas, demonstrating "strong multi-layered deterrence and mobile enforcement capabilities".

中國國務院台灣事務辦公室未立即回應媒體詢問。China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

中國不承認台灣提出的任何主權主張，包括對東沙群島的主權主張；中國海警船也增加在東沙附近巡邏，最近一次發生在本月稍早。China recognises no claims of sovereignty by Taiwan, including over the Pratas Islands, and Chinese coast guard ships have increased their patrols near Pratas, the most recent of which happened earlier this month.

東沙的安全由台灣海巡署而非軍方負責。當地有一條飛機跑道，但沒有常住平民人口。Taiwan's Coast Guard is in charge of security for Pratas, which also has an airstrip though no permanent civilian population, rather than the military.

海巡署還表示，今年初以來已在東沙周邊查扣9艘中國漁船，並將這些船改用於礁區巡護與海洋保育工作。The Coast Guard also said that it had confiscated nine Chinese fishing boats around Pratas since the start of this year and had repurposed them for reef patrol and marine conservation work.

東沙群島是國家公園，因觀光活動幾乎不存在，當地礁區大多維持未受破壞的狀態。The Pratas Islands are a national park with largely untouched reefs given tourism is almost non-existent.

台灣在南海的另一個前哨據點是位於南海南部、有主權爭議的南沙群島（Spratly Islands）中的太平島（Itu Aba）。台灣也主張控制附近無人居住的中洲礁（Zhongzhou Reef）。Taiwan's other South China Sea outpost is Itu Aba in the contested Spratly Islands in the southern part of the sea. It also claims control over the nearby and uninhabited Zhongzhou Reef.

（班・布蘭查德報導；北京新聞編輯室補充報導；麥可・佩里編輯）(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Michael Perry)