By Wang Yukun and Gao Kai

王玉琨、高凯

Recently, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited countries in the Asia-Pacific region including the Philippines, Australia, and Fiji. During his visit, Austin attended events such as the US-Japan-Australia Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting  and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). He also met with leaders and defense ministers from several countries in the region. Austin's actions during this visit reflect the US' intention to get involved in regional affairs and strengthen its military dominance.

近日，美国国防部长奥斯汀访问亚太地区菲律宾、澳大利亚和斐济等国。其间，奥斯汀出席美日澳防长会议、东盟防长扩大会议等活动，并与该地区部分国家领导人和国防部长进行会晤。奥斯汀此次出访过程中的实际动作，体现了美国介入地区事务和加强军事霸权的企图。

During his visit to the Philippines, Austin signed a General Security of Military Information Agreement with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. This military intelligence-sharing agreement was reached after two years of highly detailed negotiations. The Philippine Department of National Defense said that it is a critical step in enhancing information sharing and deepening military cooperation between the US and the Philippines and "open opportunities to pursue similar agreements with like-minded nations."

奥斯汀访问菲律宾期间，与菲律宾国防部长特奥多罗签署一项名为《军事信息安全通用协议》的军事情报共享协议。过去两年，美菲曾围绕该协议展开多轮谈判。菲律宾国防部表示，这份协议是美菲增强信息共享与深化军事合作的关键一步，为菲律宾与其他国家签署类似协议铺平了道路。

Austin and Teodoro also participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for a Combined Coordination Center at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila. Austin said that the center would enhance interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries and strengthen their ability to respond to crises collaboratively. Additionally, Austin observed a technical demonstration of the Philippine Navy's T-12 Unmanned Surface Vessel. According to the Philippine side, this vessel will perform combat, intelligence and reconnaissance tasks, and enhance maritime situational awareness in the region.

奥斯汀还与特奥多罗参加位于马尼拉阿吉纳尔多军营一个联合协调中心的奠基仪式。奥斯汀指出，该中心有助于提升两国部队的互操作性，将加强美菲协同应对危机的能力。奥斯汀还观看了菲律宾海军T-12无人艇的技术演示。菲方表示，该无人艇将执行部分作战和情报侦察任务，提升其海域态势感知能力。

During his visit to Australia, Austin attended the 14th US-Japan-Australia Trilateral Defense Ministers' Meeting. He outlined steps to strengthen intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance cooperation in the Indo-Pacific after the meeting. These include Australia's participation in Japan-US military collaborations and Japan's involvement in Australia-US military exercises. Starting in 2025, the Talisman Sabre exercise, which used to be the US-Australia bilateral drill, will become trilateral, with the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) participating alongside US and Australian marine corps. The US, Japan, and Australia also plan to expand the scale and scope of existing trilateral exercises, such as broadening the content of the Southern Jackaroo trilateral drill.

在访问澳大利亚期间，奥斯汀参加了第14届美日澳防长会议，会后概述了美日澳在印太地区加强情报、监视和侦察合作的方式步骤，包括澳方参与日美军事合作、日方参与澳美军事演习等。从2025年的“护身军刀”演习开始，美澳双边演习将变为三边演习，日本陆上自卫队两栖快速部署旅将与美澳海军陆战队共同参演。美日澳还将扩大原有三边军事演习的规模和范围，比如拓展“南方新手”三边演习内容。

Austin released the first-ever US Department of Defense Vision Statement for a Prosperous and Secure Southeast Asia at ADMM-Plus. Austin pledged to promote practical cooperation with ASEAN nations and enhance capabilities in air, cyber, and maritime domains. Austin also announced that the second ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise would be held in 2025 to strengthen collaboration with ASEAN countries. It can be seen that the mini-multilateral security cooperation mechanism represented by the trilateral strategic dialogue between the US, Japan and Australia as well as the Quad between the US, Japan, Australia and India is becoming the main way for the US to interfere in regional affairs.

在东盟防长扩大会议上，奥斯汀发布首份“美国国防部繁荣与安全的东南亚愿景声明”，声称要促进与东盟国家的务实合作，提升空中、网络和海洋领域相关能力。奥斯汀宣布，将于2025年举行第二次东盟—美国海上演习，加强与东盟国家的协作。可见，以美日澳三边战略对话、美日澳印“四国机制”为代表的“小多边”安全合作机制，正成为美国介入地区事务的主要方式。

The final stop of Austin's Asia-Pacific tour was Fiji and this is the first visit by a US Secretary of Defense in history. The US announced that it has begun negotiations with Fiji on a Status of Forces Agreement, which would allow US troops to be stationed in Fiji under the pretext of defending South Pacific island nations and carry out regular training. The US also signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement with Fiji to further strengthen logistical cooperation. In addition, the US has pledged USD 4.9 million in security assistance to support Fiji's military modernization through arms sales and other means.

奥斯汀亚太行的最后一站选择了斐济，这是美国国防部长历史上首次访问斐济。美方宣布已开始与斐济就驻军地位协定进行谈判，该协定将允许美军以保卫南太平洋岛国为借口在斐济部署部队，并定期进行训练。美国还与斐济签署“采购和交叉服务协定”，进一步加强双方后勤合作。此外，美国承诺提供490万美元安全援助，通过武器销售等方式支持斐济军事现代化。

In recent years, the US has signed military base agreements with allies such as the Philippines and Australia to achieve dispersed deployments. The US' so-called efforts to maintain regional security are, in fact, attempts to pull others in to create a united posture of deterrence. While the Biden administration will step down in January 2025, Austin has made many new diplomatic and military moves in his last trip to the Asia-Pacific during his term, which will bring more uncertainties to regional security.

近年来，美国已先后与菲律宾、澳大利亚等盟友签署军事基地协议，试图通过这种方式进行分散部署。美国所谓的维护地区安全，实际目的是“拉新人”入场制造联合遏制态势。美国拜登政府将于2025年1月卸任，奥斯汀在任期内最后一次亚太行中祭出诸多外交和军事新动作，将给地区安全带来更多不确定性。