FOUR NATION MILITARY DRILL IN WEST PACIFIC|因應中國南海擴張 美日英法首度聯合軍演

There is increased frequency of military drills by America and its allies. Shortly after the annual U.S-South Korea drills, the two countries are ready for another joint military exercise in the Sea of Japan. Meanwhile, a four-country military drill by the US, Japan, France and the UK is set to take place in the West Pacific. The French Navy's Mistral arrived in Japan on April 29 for a military drill to practice amphibious landings with the US, Japan, and the UK starting from next week. The amphibious assault ship is capable of transporting four landing barges and deploying 35 helicopters. The four nations' first-ever landing exercise will take place in Tinian Island near Guam, featuring 700 military personnel. It is reported that China's military expansion in the Western Pacific not only worries Japan and the US but also France who controls several Pacific island territories. The three countries' military drill will be joined by the UK who values over-flight rights over the region. The failure of North Korea's missile tests reaffirms its neighboring countries' commitment of military containment. After the US and South Korea's annual military drill that ended on April 30, the USS Carl Vinson was rerouted to the Sea of Japan to join the South Korean Navy for another military exercise, where AEGIS frigates' capability of tracking North Korea's missiles will also be tested. TRANSLATED BY：LUKE CHIANG 美韓兩國年度的例行演習才剛結束，臨時改變行程的美軍航空母艦卡爾文森號，又要在日本海與韓國海軍，進行追蹤彈道飛彈和反前的聯合演習。同一時間，美日英法四國的兩棲部隊，破天荒頭一回也要進行聯合登陸演習，地點在西太平洋的天寧島。媒體解讀為是為了因應中國在南海的軍事擴張，連英法等國也無法忽視這個威脅。 法國海軍最新型的登陸艦西北風號，29號緩緩駛入日本的佐世保軍港，但破天荒頭一回的，並不是法國軍艦訪問日本，而是下個星期開始，直到這個月22號要進行的、美日英法四國聯合登陸演習。 西北風號登陸艦，除了底部船艙可以攜帶4艘登陸艇，上層的船艙和飛行甲板，還可以操作多達35架直升機，以海空兩路進行登陸作戰。這次在關島附近的天寧島，來自英法美日四國總共700名官兵，首度進行聯合登陸演習。 外電報導指出，美國日本擔憂中國在西太平洋的軍事擴張，已經不是新聞，但法國在太平洋也有屬地，英國同樣重視西太平洋的自由航行權，因此即使冒著可能觸怒北京當局的風險，也要加強與美日等國的軍事合作。 北韓日前飛彈試射雖然失敗，但更加強化週邊國家軍事圍堵的決心。美國與韓國的年度例行演習，雖然在30號劃下句點，但這個月初才結束上一階段演習，還南下訪問東南亞的美軍航空母艦"卡爾文森號"，除了臨時改變行程往北、抵達日本海海域，還準備跟韓國海軍增加演習項目。除了反潛，還要驗證以神盾艦追蹤北韓飛彈的能力。 記者徐家仁報導