China is putting more ships and planes in the South China Sea. Other countries are angry about this.

中國在南中國海部署了更多船隻與飛機，其他國家對此感到憤怒。

China has many ships and planes in the water. They work with Russia. They also test big missiles. China wants these things to seem normal.

中國在海域部署了許多船隻與飛機。他們與俄羅斯合作，並測試大型飛彈。中國希望這些行為看起來像是常態。

China and the Philippines fight over a place called Scarborough Shoal. The United States helps the Philippines. They give them new weapons. China says this is bad for peace.

中國與菲律賓在一個稱為黃岩島的地方發生爭執。美國援助菲律賓，提供新武器。中國表示這對和平不利。

Many countries say China's claims to the sea are not legal. They follow a rule from a court in 2016. China says the rule is wrong. China is now angry with Japan and the US.

許多國家表示中國對海域的主張不合法。他們遵循 2016 年法院的一項裁決。中國稱該裁決是錯誤的。中國現在對日本與美國感到憤怒。

China wants its military to stay in the sea. Now, China and other countries do not agree on the laws of the sea.

中國希望其軍隊留在海域。目前，中國與其他國家在海域法律上無法達成共識。

China has increased its military and paramilitary activities across the Pacific and South China Sea. This happens at a time when international diplomatic tensions are rising again regarding the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

中國在太平洋與南中國海增加了軍事與準軍事活動。此時正值國際外交對 2016 年常設仲裁法院裁決的緊張局勢再次升溫。

Beijing is using a strategy to make its military presence in disputed waters seem normal and routine. This is shown through several activities, such as joint bomber patrols with Russia, sending coast guard ships east of Taiwan, and testing long-range missiles from a nuclear submarine. Experts emphasize that these actions are intended to signal a permanent change in regional security, specifically targeting the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines. By establishing a regular presence beyond the First Island Chain, China aims to make it more difficult and costly for external countries to intervene.

北京正採取一種策略，使其在爭議水域的軍事存在看起來像是常態且例行。這體現在多項活動中，例如與俄羅斯進行聯合轟炸機巡邏、派遣海警船前往台灣東方，以及從核潛艇測試長程飛彈。專家強調，這些行動旨在發出區域安全將發生永久性改變的訊號，特別是針對美國、日本與菲律賓。透過在第一島鏈之外建立例行存在，中國旨在增加外部國家干預的難度與成本。

At the same time, tensions have grown at Scarborough Shoal, where China has created a nature reserve and deployed ships. Observers believe this is a test to see how the international community reacts to a potential permanent structure. Meanwhile, the Philippines is asserting its sovereignty with support from the U.S. through joint patrols and advanced weaponry, such as the NMESIS missile system. Consequently, Beijing asserts that this military cooperation is an attempt to stop China's growth rather than a way to ensure stability.

與此同時，黃岩礁的緊張局勢有所增加，中國在當地建立了自然保護區並部署船隻。觀察者認為，這是為了測試國際社會對潛在永久性設施的反應。與此同時，菲律賓在美國支持下，透過聯合巡邏及使用如 NMESIS 飛彈系統等先進武器來主張主權。因此，北京聲稱這種軍事合作是企圖阻止中國成長，而非確保穩定之舉。

Diplomatic relations have also worsened following the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague ruling, which rejected China's 'nine-dash line' claims. A group of 14 nations, including the U.S. and Japan, reaffirmed that the ruling is legally binding. In response, China dismissed the decision as invalid. Furthermore, Chinese officials accused Japan of interfering in regional affairs, highlighting Japan's participation in military exercises and the use of missiles as destabilizing factors.

在 2016 年海牙裁決十週年後，外交關係亦有所惡化，該裁決否定了中國的「九段線」主張。包括美國與日本在內的 14 個國家重新確認該裁決具有法律約束力。對此，中國將該決定視為無效。此外，中國官員指責日本干涉區域事務，強調日本參與軍事演習及使用飛彈是導致局勢不穩的因素。

The current situation is defined by China's ongoing effort to make its military presence seem normal and a growing diplomatic gap over the legal status of the South China Sea.

目前的局勢定義在於中國持續嘗試將軍事存在常態化，以及對南中國海法律地位日益增加的外交分歧。

China has expanded its military and paramilitary activities across the Pacific and South China Sea, coinciding with renewed international diplomatic friction regarding the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling.

中國在太平洋與南海擴展軍事及準軍事活動，同時國際間針對 2016 年常設仲裁法院裁決的外交摩擦也再次升溫。

Beijing has implemented a strategy of operational normalization, seeking to render its presence in contested waters unremarkable. This trajectory is evidenced by a confluence of activities, including joint bomber patrols and naval exercises with Russia, the deployment of coast guard vessels east of Taiwan, and the execution of a long-range ballistic missile test from a nuclear-powered submarine. Analysts suggest these actions are not centrally synchronized but converge to signal a permanent shift in the regional security environment, specifically targeting the United States, Japan, and the Philippines. The objective appears to be the elevation of the perceived cost for external intervention by establishing a jurisdictional record of presence beyond the First Island Chain.

北京實施了一項「行動常態化」策略，試圖使其在爭議海域的存在變得不顯眼。這一趨勢可從一系列活動中得到證明，包括與俄羅斯進行轟炸機聯合巡邏與海軍演習、在台灣東部部署海警船，以及使用核動力潛艇進行長程彈道飛彈測試。分析師認為，這些行動並非由中央同步協調，但其趨勢一致，旨在暗示區域安全環境已發生永久性轉移，特別是針對美國、日本與菲律賓。其目的似乎是透過在第一島鏈之外建立管轄權的存在記錄，以提高外部干預的感知成本。

Simultaneously, tensions have intensified at Scarborough Shoal, where China has established a nature reserve and deployed maritime assets, which observers characterize as a probe to test international responses to a potential permanent structure. This escalation occurs as the Philippines, supported by the United States through the Mutual Defense Treaty and joint patrols, asserts its sovereignty. The provision of advanced weaponry, such as the NMESIS missile system, further complicates the security calculus. Beijing maintains that such external military cooperation serves to contain China's rise rather than ensure regional stability.

與此同時，黃岩島的緊張局勢也隨之加劇。中國在該地設立自然保護區並部署海事資產，觀察者將其定性為試探國際社會對潛在永久建築物反應的手段。在菲律賓獲得美國透過共同防禦條約與聯合巡邏支持並主張主權的情況下，局勢進一步升級。提供先進武器（如 NMESIS 飛彈系統）使安全計算變得更加複雜。北京則堅持認為，此類外部軍事合作旨在遏制中國崛起，而非確保區域穩定。

Diplomatic relations have deteriorated following the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling, which invalidated China's 'nine-dash line' claims. A coalition of 14 nations, including the U.S. and Japan, reaffirmed the ruling's legally binding nature. In response, China dismissed the award as invalid and summoned the Japanese envoy, alleging that Tokyo's involvement constitutes an interference in regional affairs and a departure from its post-war pacifist framework. Chinese officials have specifically highlighted Japan's participation in the Balikatan exercises and the deployment of surface-to-ship missiles as destabilizing factors that may exceed the risk posed by U.S. involvement.

在 2016 年海牙法庭裁決十週年後，外交關係進一步惡化，該裁決判定中國的「九段線」主張無效。包括美國與日本在內的 14 個國家重申了裁決的法律約束力。作為回應，中國將該裁決視為無效，並召見日本特使，指責東京的參與構成對區域事務的干涉，且背離了其戰後和平主義框架。中國官員特別強調，日本參與 Balikatan 演習及部署地對艦飛彈是不穩定因素，其可能帶來的風險甚至超過美國的參與。

The current regional state is characterized by a persistent Chinese effort to normalize its military footprint and a deepening diplomatic divide over the legal status of the South China Sea.

目前的區域狀態以中國持續努力將其軍事足跡常態化，以及針對南海法律地位而深化外交分歧為特徵。