中美两军高层搁置争议友好对话

Tensions may be running high between U.S. and Chinese militaries over cyberspying and shows of force by both sides in the Pacific. But at a security conference in Singapore, American and Chinese commanders set the thorniest issues aside for the moment and embraced a new approach to break down the barriers between them: small talk─about their military careers, spouses and grandkids.

中美两国军队之间因为网络间谍活动和双方在太平洋地区展示军力的行动产生的紧张局势可能在升温。但在新加坡的一场安全会议上，美中两国指挥官暂时搁置最棘手的问题，双方都接受一种新方法来消除两军之间存在的障碍，这一方法就是闲谈。谈一谈各自的军旅生涯、配偶和孙子辈。

The charm offensive on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue conference came ahead of a high-stakes summit later this week between President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping in California.

就在中美两军高层参加“香格里拉对话”间隙发起这场魅力攻势的时候，本周晚些时候美国总统奥巴马(Barack Obama)和中国国家主席习近平将在美国加州举行一场对两国来说非常重要的峰会。

Before the summit, U.S. officials say they have seen a marked change, at least in tone, in the new Chinese leadership's approach to the U.S.--a change that was on display in private talks between U.S. and Chinese defense officials who met on the sidelines of the conference this weekend.

在峰会举行前，美国官员说他们已经看到了中国新一届领导人对待美国的明显变化，至少在语气上如此。从上周末参加“香格里拉对话”间隙相遇的美中两国国防官员在私下会谈的表现可以明显看出这一变化。

For veterans of Shangri-La, the Chinese delegation at the conference this year appeared to be more engaged and outgoing than in years past. Their delegates not only spoke fluent English but went out of their way to be cordial and courteous in their public and private comments, while still being strident about China's concerns about stepped-up U.S. military deployments in Asia, which visiting Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the conference would continue.

作为“香格里拉对话”的老面孔，今年参会的中国代表团和往年相比显得更投入，也更为友善。中国代表团成员不仅能说流利的英语，且无论在公开还是私下谈话场合，他们都竭力做到亲切礼貌。但中方仍然对美军加强在亚洲的军事部署感到非常担忧。参会的美国防部长哈格尔(Chuck Hagel)在会上说，美军将继续在亚洲的军事部署。

The change in China's approach, at least so far, has renewed U.S. hope that Beijing will at least be willing to engage in more detailed discussions than they have in the past on thorny issues, including setting standards for cyberspace, tamping down tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and finding ways to restrain North Korea, the officials said.

有关官员说，至少到目前为止，中国做法的改变重新燃起美国的希望，即和过去相比，北京至少将愿意就一系列问题进行更详细的讨论，其中包括为网络空间制定种种标准，为南中国海（中国称南海）领土争端引发的紧张局势降温，找到遏制朝鲜的种种方法等。

'There is a lot more hope,' a senior Obama administration official said. 'The previous government was more 20th Century. The new team seems to be more 21st Century.'

奥巴马政府一名高级官员说，这让我们看到了更多希望。上一届中国政府的风格更像20世纪的做派，新一届政府看上去则更像21世纪。

But the senior Obama administration official said it was unclear based on the limited exchanges that have taken place between top U.S. officials and China's new leadership whether these 'styale differences' will translate into 'a difference in action.'

但那位奥巴马政府的高级官员说，美国高级官员和中国新领导层之间交流有限，因此还不清楚这种行事风格上的不同是否会体现为行动上的不同。

Renewed U.S. hopes stem, at least so far, from the fact that the new government has indicated to Washington that it 'is willing to talk about the issues,' including sensitive ones like cyberespionage, the official said.

这位官员说，中国新一届政府向华盛顿表示，愿意讨论包括网络间谍等敏感话题在内的问题，这一点令美国再次燃起希望，至少到目前为止是这样。

The new tone was on display, officials said, during Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's brief meeting Friday night with Gen. Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of staff for the People's Liberation Army, at the start of the conference.

官员们说，上周五晚间大会开幕前，美国防长哈格尔与中国人民解放军副总参谋长戚建国短暂会晤，两人的见面呈现出一种新基调。

The two weren't scheduled to meet until Saturday afternoon, but Singapore's defense minister introduced them a day earlier.

哈格尔与戚建国的碰面直到5月25日才定下来，不过此前一天新加坡防长已介绍二人认识。

U.S. officials say Mr. Hagel told Gen. Qi that the U.S. hopes for more 'constructive engagements' with Beijing and that Mr. Obama looks forward to hosting Mr. Xi in California later this week and to discussing areas of 'mutual concern.' Mr. Hagel briefly mentioned U.S. concerns about China's alleged role in cyberspying in his exchange with Gen. Qi but didn't go into detail during their brief exchange, senior defense officials said.

美国官员说，哈格尔对戚建国讲，美国希望与北京方面展开更有建设性的接触，并说奥巴马期待本周晚些时候在加利福尼亚州接待习近平，讨论双方共同关注的问题。美国高级防务官员说，哈格尔在与戚建国的交谈中，简单提及了美国就中国在网络间谍事件中所扮角色的担心，但两人见面时间较短，没有深入探讨这个话题。

U.S. defense officials described Gen. Qi as 'engaging' but didn't provide details about what he told the Pentagon chief. It was their first meeting.

美国防务官员用“有魅力”来形容戚建国，但没有透露他对哈格尔具体说了些什么。这是他们两人的首次会面。

Officials described a similarly 'warm' exchange between the head of the U.S. military's Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel Locklear, and Gen. Qi on Sunday.

据美国官员描述，周日美国太平洋司令部司令、海军上将洛克利尔(Samuel Locklear)与戚建国之间的交流也同样“热情”。

During their meeting, Adm. Locklear and Gen. Qi not only discussed the importance of expanding U.S.-Chinese military ties but swapped stories about their personal lives and careers.

洛克利尔和戚建国在会谈过程中不仅讨论了扩大美中军事关系的重要性，还分享了各自私人生活和事业上的经历。

Adm. Locklear told the Chinese general about joining the Navy at age 17 and about his family, including his wife and his four grandsons, officials said. Gen. Qi reciprocated, sharing details about his military career and family.

美国官员说，洛克利尔告诉这位中国将军，自己17岁参加海军，还谈到了自己的家庭，包括妻子和四个孙子。戚建国于是也谈起了自己的军旅生涯和家庭生活。

'It was about building a relationship between the two commanders,' one U.S. official said.

一位美国官员说，这两位军事指挥官主要就是在建立关系。