“The military relationship is in a phase of adjustment after the Obama administration took office,” says Zhang Minqian, an academic from the University of International Relations, adding that Beijing might have regarded the change of government in the US as an opportunity.

來自國際關系學院(University of International Relations)的學者張敏謙表示：“中美軍事關系正處于奧巴馬(Obama)政府上臺后的調整階段。”他補充稱，中國政府可能已經把美國政府的更替視為一次機會。

This opportunity coincides with efforts on the part of the PLA to transform itself to fill the role of the armed forces of a major power. As China stated in its defence white paper this year, the country pays increasing attention to non-traditional security threats such as terrorism and piracy.
　
此時，也正值中國人民解放軍努力改革，以擔負一個主要大國武裝力量的職責。正如中國在其今年的國防白皮書里所說，它對恐怖主義和海盜等非傳統安全威脅正給與越來越多的關注。
　
It intends to strengthen its naval capability to secure future lines of communication, increase military contacts with other countries and take on ever more responsibility in dealing with regional and global security threats.

中國計劃加強海軍軍力，確保未來海洋運輸的能力，加大與其它國家的軍事聯系，并在處理地區和全球安全威脅問題上，擔負起更多前所未有的職責。

The US has emphasised it welcomes this and hopes to see more of it. Mr Sedney said the US “welcomes China as a global player”.

美國強調指出，它歡迎這種做法，并且希望看到更多這樣的措施。謝偉森表示，美國“歡迎中國在全球事務中扮演其角色”。

These changes, however, will continue to come very gradually, caution experts. “I don't think that China will be satisfying all of the US's expectations with regard to international involvement and responsibility from now on,” says Mr Zhang.

但專家警告稱，這些改變將是非常緩慢的。張敏謙表示：“我不認為從現在開始，中國將會在國際性參與和責任方面滿足美國的所有期望。”

The main reason is that distrust runs deep on both sides.

主要原因是雙方互不信任由來已久。

The US continues to feel that China is building a military capability that is not necessary to address the purely defensive strategic goals it claims it has.

美國仍然覺得，中國正在打造的軍事能力，不只會用于實現所聲稱的、純粹的防御性戰略目標而言。

One example of this is China's apparent desire to own aircraft carriers, again confirmed by growing calls from senior military officials this week that the country was capable of and should build its own carrier.

其中一個例子就是中國顯然想擁有航空母艦，上周來自高級軍事官員不斷加大的呼聲——中國能夠并且應該打造自己的航母——也再次證實了這一想法。

The PLA pairs these calls with the assurance that China would not seek hegemony and its military strategy remained defensive.

同時，中國人民解放軍還表示，中國不會尋求霸權，以及不會改變防御性的軍事戰略。

But US military officials are not convinced. Washington also accuses China regularly of hiding part of its military expenditure and failing to explain what it is really doing.

然而，美國軍事官員對此并不信服。美國政府還指責中國經常隱藏部分軍事開支，并且沒有對此真實用途作出解釋。

“It is not natural for these people to reveal anything,” said a military source in frequent contact with the PLA.

一位與中國人民解放軍有著頻繁接觸的軍事消息來源表示：“對于這些人來說，他們可不習慣對任何事情作出披露。”

The feeling of unease is mutual. “In the past, we would dig ourselves in but there is no one invading now,” says Peng Guangqian, a military scholar with close ties to the PLA.

這種不安的感覺是相互的。與人民解放軍關系密切的軍事學者彭光謙表示：“在過去，我們會做好準備，但現在沒有人會發動侵略了。”

“In the era of globalisation, we are interdependent. However, none of us likes it deep in our hearts. It is like a marriage without love,” Mr Peng added.

他補充表示：“在全球化時代，我們相互依賴。然而，在內心深處，我們當中的任何一方都不喜歡這種依賴。它就像一個沒有愛的婚姻。