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Now this is about when the United States took notice.
美国就是在这个时候意识到该问题的严重性的。
While the US has no claim in the South China Sea, it is the world's lone superpower and uses its massive Navy to defend international waters.
虽然美国在南海不存在主权，但它是世界上唯一的超级大国，他要利用其庞大的海军来维持国际水域的秩序。
But China sees the US presence in the area as an encroachment in their backyard.
但中国认为，美国干涉该地区就是在他们的后院撒野。
When a US destroyer ship sailed just 12 miles off the shore of one of China's man-made islands and the Spratlys,
当一艘美国驱逐舰开到了距离中国一个人造岛屿及南沙群岛12英里的地方时，
China sent out their own destroyer and a patrol boat as a warning.
中国派出了自己的驱逐舰和一艘巡逻艇以示警告。
China is building these islands in order to increase control around the surrounding waters.
中国建这些岛屿是为了加强对周围水域的控制，
Using a strategy that they've deemed "The Cabbage Strategy".
他们将这一策略称之为“白菜策略”。
Where they surround a contested island with as many ships as possible.
他们会派尽可能多的船只将有争议的岛屿团团围住。
In May of 2013 China sent several ships to Ayungin shoal,
2013年5月，中国派出了几艘船前往仁爱礁，
which is just 105 nautical miles off the coast of the Philippines, well within that 200 mile EEZ.
该地距离菲律宾海岸105海里，恰好位于菲律宾200英里的专属经济区内。
The Philippines has eight soldiers stationed there.
菲律宾在此驻扎了八名士兵，
Like wrapping leaves around a cabbage the Chinese sealed off the Philippines access to Ayungin Shoal,
就像卷心菜的叶子一样，中国封锁了菲律宾前往仁爱礁的通道，
with fishing boats, surveillance ships, and navy destroyers creating blockade so that the Filipinos can't receive shipments of food and supplies.
用渔船、监视船和海军驱逐舰将该岛围得密不透风，这样一来，岛上的菲律宾人就无法获得粮食和物资补给。
By building their own man-made Islands, China's essentially building naval bases.
建造自己的人造岛，中国其实是在建设海军基地。
The more Islands they have, the more ships they can support, and more territory they can slowly take control of.
占领的岛屿越多，就能保护更多的船只，就能慢慢掌控更大的区域。
And the Chinese cautiously use the cabbage strategy in the Spratly islands,
中国人在南沙群岛谨慎地使用着“白菜战略”，
taking over contested territory, but in small steps, avoiding the possibility of igniting a bigger conflict.
接管了有争议的领土，但为了避免引发更大的冲突，中国每次都只采取一些小动作。
But the disputes are intensifying.
然而，争端还是在激化。
Countries are now actively arresting trespassers in waters that they claim.
各国现在已经主动在他们声称具有主权的水域逮捕侵入者，
and China could go a step further.
中国可以进一步推进。
Since 2015 they've threatened to declare an air identification zone above the South China Sea,
自2015年以来，他们就威胁要在南海上空划一个空中识别区，
declaring that all aircraft that fly through it would need Chinese permission.
宣布所有飞入其中的飞机都需获得中国方面的许可。
Now, publicly China insists that their intentions are not militaristic,
如今，中国公开强调，他们的意图不是军国主义，
but their actions say otherwise and it's heightening tensions in the region
但他们的行动正好相反，还激化了该地区的矛盾。
Steve Bannon who sits on the US National Security Council and who is one of President Trump's closest advisors
美国国家安全委员会委员兼特朗普总统最亲近的顾问之一Steve Bannon
is almost certain that the US will go to war in the South China Sea.
几乎可以确定美国将在南中国海开战。
“We're going to war in the South China Sea, I was a sailor there, a naval officer,
“南海之战我们也会参战，我在那里当过水手，当过海军军官，
we're going to war in the South China Sea in five to ten years aren't we?”
五到十年之内我们就会在南海开战，
there's no doubt about it."
这一点是可以肯定的。”
But for now, the disputes remain only in the legal and diplomatic realms that only occasionally break into minor clashes.
然而，当前的争端只涉及法律和外交领域，偶尔才会发生轻微冲突。
In July 2016 the international court at the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines who charged China with invading their rightful territory in the South China Sea.
2016年7月，海牙国际法庭裁定菲律宾对中国侵犯其在南海的合法领土的指控成立。
China dismissed the ruling and enforcement of the law doesn't seem likely.
中国驳回了这一判决，执法似乎变得不太可能了。
Even from the US who released a vague statement urging the two countries to "clarify their claims" and "work together to resolve their disputes"
即使美国出面也不太可能，美国发布了一个暧昧的声明，敦促两国“澄清他们各自主张的领土范围”，“携手解决彼此之间的纠纷”，
which is another way of saying "we don't really want to deal with this".
换句话说就是“我们其实不想插手。”
In fact, as the conflict escalates and international courts get involved, the US is stuck in a tricky position.
事实上，随着冲突升级和国际法庭的介入，美国陷入了一个棘手的局面。
On one hand, they do not want to risk provoking a conflict with China.
一方面，他们不想冒险挑起与中国的冲突。
But on the other they want China to stop bullying their allies in the region.
但另一方面，他们希望中国停止欺负他们位于该地区的盟友。
Up until now the US has managed the situation by continuing to patrol through the South China Sea.
到目前为止，美国还能够通过在南海继续巡逻稳定该地区的局势。
It's also likely that the US would fly fighter jets above the sea if China actually does declare an air identification zone.
如果中国真的划定空中识别区，美国也有可能派战斗机到南海上空维持秩序。
These are symbolic but effective ways of keeping Chine in check while not getting too involved in the details of the conflict.
这些象征性但有效的措施能够保持中国安分守己，同时避免过于干涉该地区冲突的细节。
So far the disputes in the South China Sea have not become violent
到目前为止，南海争端还没有达到极端的地步，
but countries are starting to defend their claims by increasing troop numbers, weaponizing their territory and provoking each other.
但各国已经开始增加部队人数，在他们的领土上部署武器，互相示威等手段来维护他们的主权。
It's a complex situation that will continue to gain international attention for better or for worse.
不管怎样，这个问题都很复杂，并且会继续引起国际社会的关注。
