世上本无事，总有人为谋取私利而到处挑拨离间、惹事生非，南海也未能幸免。个别域外大国，唯恐南海不乱，蓄意炒作南海“紧张局势”，指责中国在南海“搞军事化”。殊不知中国在自己领土上部署必要防御设施，本就是国家的合法权利。这个大国有世界上最强大的军事力量，在全世界有数百个军事基地。其不断在南海搞军事演习，派大型军舰搞“航行自由”行动，把南海当作大国博弈的战场，才是南海局势紧张的重要根源。

We would deserve a more peaceful world, were it not for the instigation and trouble-making of some forces for their own agenda. The South China Sea is unfortunately no exception. A major power outside the region has deliberately hyped up the so-called "tensions" in the South China Sea and accused China of "militarizing" the region. The fact is that China has every legitimate right to deploy necessary defence facilities on its own territory. That major power, with the world's most powerful military forces and hundreds of military bases across the world, has kept staging military exercises in the South China Sea and sent large warships there for the so-called "freedom of navigation" operations, trying to turn the South China Sea into an arena for major-power wrestling. This is THE source of tensions in the South China Sea.

　　个别域外大国总喜欢讲南海问题，但在一些多边场合，其国家代表发完言就扬长而去，不愿倾听地区国家对南海和平稳定的关切。可以说，这个大国所关心的南海问题，同中国和东盟国家所关心的南海问题，根本就不是同一个问题。这个大国的真实目的是搅浑南海，为维持地区军事存在找借口，维护亚太霸权和海洋霸主地位。

That major power enjoys raising the South China Sea issue. Yet on some multilateral occasions, its representatives would take the exit immediately after finishing what they had to say, giving little heed to the call of the littoral countries for peace and stability in the South China Sea. It is fair to say that when it comes to the South China Sea issue, that major power cares about things totally different from those of China and ASEAN countries. Its real agenda is to muddy the waters and seek excuses to justify its military presence in the region, in order to uphold its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific and maritime supremacy the world over.

　　个别域外大国言南海必称“航行自由”问题，然而这个问题在南海根本就不存在。中国对外贸易和能源运输的60%以上通过南海，中国比任何国家更关心南海航行自由。事实是，每年有十几万艘商船通行南海，从没有一艘遇到过航行自由问题。这些域外大国天天喊“航行自由”，想要的莫不是乱闯别国领海的“横行自由”？

That major power always questions the "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea, but there is nothing to question at all. More than 60% of China's foreign trade and energy supplies pass through the South China Sea, so China has a greater stake in the freedom of navigation than any other country. The reality is that more than 100,000 merchant ships pass through these waters every year and not a single vessel has ever run into any problem with the freedom of navigation. When a major power outside the region talk about the freedom of navigation, does it mean to have a license to do whatever it wants in other countries' territorial waters? This might be the real question.

　　南海地区国家有维护和平稳定与推动地区合作的共同意愿。中国不会任由领土主权和地区安全受到侵害，也不会坐视域外大国搅乱南海秩序。希望域外国家尊重地区国家的意愿和选择，多发挥建设性作用，不要为一己私利，也不要人云亦云，成为威胁南海和平稳定的风险源。

Littoral states share the commitment to maintaining peace and stability and promoting cooperation in the South China Sea. China would not allow its territorial sovereignty and regional security to be undermined, nor would it allow any major power outside the region to muddy the waters. It is our hope that countries outside the region could respect the wishes and choices of countries in the region and play a more constructive role. Any attempt to impose one's own selfish agenda or blindly follow suit from the outside would only pose real risks to peace and stability in the South China Sea.