Prime Minister Rudd Calls on Australia to Respond to Asian Arms Race
澳加强国防力量应对亚太军备竞赛

　
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that Australia must be prepared to respond to an emerging arms race across the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Rudd says the Australian Defense Force will be built up to meet the challenge.

澳大利亚总理陆克文警告说，澳大利亚必须做好准备，以回应亚太地区正在出现的军备竞赛。陆克文表示，将加强澳大利亚国防力量，面对挑战。

The Australian leader says the modernization of military forces across Asia means that his country needs to bolster its defenses, over time.

陆克文表示，亚洲地区军事力量的现代化意味着澳大利亚也需要逐步加强防务。

In his speech late Tuesday to retired soldiers, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did not spell out which countries could pose a threat in the future.

陆克文星期四晚上对退役军人发表讲话时，没有提及哪些国家未来会形成威胁。

Military planners in Canberra, though, are wary of China's rapid arms build-up and the expanding might of Indian forces. Neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia are also beefing up their defenses.

不过，堪培拉的军事决策者们对中国军力的迅速提升和印度军队的扩充感到担心。澳大利亚的邻国印度尼西亚和马来西亚也在加强防务力量。

Mr. Rudd did say, however, that existing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region cause concern, including China's claims on Taiwan and "unresolved flash points" arising from border disputes between other countries.

但陆克文提到，亚太地区目前的紧张关系令人担忧，其中包括中国对台湾的主权宣示，以及其他国家之间边界纠纷而引起的热点问题。

The prime minister says his government must be aware of the changes taking place in the neighborhood and that Australia has to make sure its forces could "answer the call" if needed.

陆克文指出，澳大利亚政府必须了解周边地区正在发生的变化，必须确保本国军力在需要的时候能够应对挑战。

"As nations grow and become more affluent, they also update their military forces. We see this in our own region," said Rudd. "We see a substantial arms build-up over time. We need to be aware of the changes taking place, and we must make sure that we have the right mix of capabilities to deal with any contingencies that might arise in the future."

他说：“随着各个国家的发展和日渐富足，它们也会提升自己的军事力量。我们这个地区的情况就是如此，我们看到军备在逐步扩充。我们需要了解正在发生的变化，必须确保我们具备各种能力，以应对未来可能出现的任何紧急状况。”

Australia has a relatively small military, which has been stretched in recent times by deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

澳大利亚军力规模比较小，而由于最近派兵前往伊拉克、阿富汗、东帝汶和索罗门群岛，军力更显得紧张。

A 10-year plan to modernize its capabilities is under way, including the purchase of fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and helicopters, as well efforts to build a larger army.

一个军事现代化10年规划正在实施当中，包括购买战斗机、巡航导弹和直升机，以及努力扩大军队编制。

Kevin Rudd has said that Australia, which is a close ally of the United States, wants to maintain its status as a global "middle power," capable of exerting diplomatic influence on its more powerful neighbors and allies.

陆克文说，作为与美国关系密切的盟国，澳大利亚希望保持作为世界上一个“中间力量”的地位，能够对更强大的邻国和盟友施加外交影响。