The U.S. Defense Department released a long-awaited report on China's military power Wednesday, after a year of new weapons breakthroughs by Beijing.

　　美国国防部周三发布了一份备受期待的中国军事力量报告。此前一年，中国在新型武器研发方面已屡屡取得突破性进展。

　　In some respects, the report is a reprise of previous assessments by the U.S. military. But it puts new focus on China's maritime ambitions: The document includes a special section on China's interest in projecting naval power well beyond its territorial waters.

　　在有些方面，这份报告重复了美国军方之前的评估。不过这次它的新焦点是中国在海事方面的雄心，其中有一个章节专门针对的是中国在其领海之外展现海军实力的兴趣。

　　While China's navy “retains a decidedly regional focus,” the report says Chinese warships “will play a growing role in protecting China's far-flung interests.”

　　相关报道报告说，虽然中国海军目前关注的显然是地区问题，但中国军舰在保护中国广泛利益方面将发挥越来越大的作用。

　　Earlier this month, China sent its first aircraft carrier on sea trials, a move that advertised Beijing's ambitions to become a global naval power. Although the carrier, which is based on an empty hull bought from Ukraine, doesn't yet have aircraft, the Pentagon report says it “will likely serve initially as a training-and-evaluation platform.”

　　本月早些时候，中国第一艘航空母舰出海试航，此举将中国欲成为全球海上大国的雄心壮志诏告天下。五角大楼的这份报告说，虽然中国这艘航空母舰还没有舰载机，但在初始阶段它可能会作为训练和评估的平台。该航母是依托从乌克兰购买的航母船壳建造的。

　　And as early as this year, the report adds, “China could begin construction of a fully indigenous carrier… which could achieve operational capability after 2015.”

　　报告还说，中国可能已于今年开始建造一艘完全自主研发的航母，并在2015年后投入使用。

　　The U.S. Defense Department is required by law to deliver an annual assessment to Congress of China's military capabilities. This year's report, however, follows a series of military breakthroughs, including the unveiling this year of the J-20, China's stealth-jet prototype.

　　根据法律规定，美国国防部应向国会递交有关中国军事能力的年度评估报告。不过在今年发布报告之前，中国已在军事上取得了一系列突破，包括隐形战机原型机歼-20今年的亮相等。

　　The J-20, the report states, “highlights China's ambition to produce a fighter aircraft that incorporates stealth attributes, advanced avionics, and super-cruise capable engines over the next several years.”

　　报告说，歼-20凸显出中国希望在未来几年制造出集隐形特点、先进的航空电子学及超级巡航能力引擎为一体的战斗机的野心

　　Weapons such as the J-20 and longer-range ballistic missiles, it adds, ”could improve the PLA's [People's Liberation Army] ability to strike regional air bases, logistical facilities, and other ground-based infrastructure.“

　　报告还说，歼-20和更长射程的弹道导弹等武器可能会提高中国人民解放军打击地区空军基地、后勤设施及其它地面基础设施的能力。

　　Previous reports have focused on what the U.S. military terms China's “anti-access” capabilities, weapons meant to prevent U.S. naval vessels from operating in international waters near China. This year's report also notes China's interest in developing cyberwarfare capabilities.

　　美国以前的这类报告主要关注的是其军方所谓的中国“反进入武器”，即用来阻止美国海军舰艇在中国附近公海采取军事行动的武器。今年的报告还提到了中国在发展网络战能力方面的兴趣。

　　The report, which is due in March, was delayed for several months while various government agencies reviewed the document. On Monday, Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta chiding the Pentagon for missing its deadline.

　　这份报告本该今年3月发布，但因经过各个政府部门的评估，便耽搁了几个月。周一，来自弗吉尼亚州的国会众议员福布斯(Randy Forbes)致信美国国防部长帕内塔(Leon Panetta)，指责五角大楼不按时完成报告。福布斯是美国众议院军事委员会(House Armed Services Committee)成员，同时也是美国国会“中国连线”(Congressional China Caucus)的联席主席。

　　Delays in the release of the document aren't unusual. June Teufel Dreyer, a University of Miami professor and China military expert, said such delays have in the past been a reflection of internal differences of opinion within the national-security community.

　　中国军力报告的发布延迟并非罕事。迈阿密大学(University of Miami)教授、中国军事专家德雷耶(June Teufel Dreyer)说，以前该报告若延迟发布，就说明美国国家安全人士出现了内部的意见不合。

　　“The later it comes out, the more it is a barometer of the arguments going in the coordination process,” she said.

　　德雷耶说，报告出来得越晚，就说明协调过程中的争论越激烈。