By Xu Shiwei

英国近期发布多份战略文件，阐述了该国国防、外交和国家安全战略，以及未来军队改革路线图。值得关注的是，英国在其战略文件中多次提到，亚太地区在未来全球地缘政治和经济格局中的地位将越来越重要，因此将寻求加强在该地区的军事存在。

The UK has recently released several strategic documents expounding its national defense, diplomatic and national security strategies, as well as the roadmap of its future military reform. It’s worth noting that the UK mentioned in these documents many times that the Asia-Pacific will command a more critical position in the global geopolitics and economic landscape, and it will seek to enhance its military presence in the region.

作为域外国家，英国急于布局亚太地区，背后颇有深意。

As a country outside of the Asian-Pacific region, the UK’s eager deployment in the region is driven by deep considerations.

一是落实“全球英国”战略。在“脱欧”大背景下，为在更大舞台上有所作为，同时防止陷入封闭和保守，英国各界认为，英国应超越欧洲，放眼全球，承担起“真正的全球角色”，并推出所谓“全球英国”战略。英国进军亚太地区是显示存在、落实“全球英国”战略的具体举措。

First, it is implementing the “Global Britain” strategy. To play a role on a larger platform and refrain from becoming isolated and conservative after Brexit, various circles in the UK agree that the country should look beyond Europe and assume a genuinely global role in the world. London has launched the so-called “Global Britain” strategy, and its military deployments in Asia-Pacific are a concrete step to enhance its presence and implement the strategy.

二是强化英美同盟。英国认为，英美关系是英国最重要的双边关系，是维护其安全、发展利益的重要基础。日前，美国提出所谓“太平洋威慑倡议”，计划加大在亚太地区的军事投入，遏制区域内潜在竞争对手的“反介入/区域拒止”能力。在此情况下，英国紧跟美国加大在该地区的军事存在，旨在进一步强化英美同盟关系。

Second, it is strengthening the Anglo-American alliance. London takes its relationship with Washington as the most important bilateral tie and a vital foundation for maintaining its security and development interests. The US has recently proposed the so-called “Pacific Deterrence Initiative”as part of the plan to increase its military input in the Asia-Pacific and restrict the “Anti-Access Area Denial” capabilities of potential rivals in the region. Under such circumstances, the UK following in the US’ step of ramping up military presence in the region is aimed to strengthen the alliance.

三是实现自身利益。当前，亚太地区正成为全球地缘政治和地缘经济的焦点，不仅美国、日本、印度、澳大利亚等国家纷纷入局角逐，德国、法国、荷兰等欧洲国家也相继出台“印太战略”。面对此种情形，英国加大亚太地区军力部署，意在提前布局、抢占先机，为日后“分一杯羹”打下基础。

Third, it is pursuing its national interests. The Asia-Pacific is becoming the focus of global geopolitics and geo-economy. Not only the US, Japan, India and Australia have all reached their hands to the region, but European countries such as Germany, France and the Netherlands have also formulated and rolled out their own “Indo-Pacific strategy”. Therefore, Britain’s increase of troops in the Asia Pacific is a preemptive step to pave the way for getting a slice of the action in the future.

不可否认，作为曾经的“日不落帝国”，英国转向亚太地区有充足的内部动力，“脱欧”已使英国在欧洲地区声誉受损，因而英国希望能以“秩序守卫者”身份，在亚太地区一展身手。不过，受国内现状和国际格局影响，英国布局亚太难掀波澜。

There is no denying that the UK, a powerful empire in the past, is sufficiently driven from inside to turn to the Asia Pacific. Brexit has taken a toll on its reputation in Europe, so the country hopes to try its hand in the Asia Pacific as an “order defender”, only its ambition will hardly make a stir given the domestic and international landscape.

一方面，英国自身内外交困。“脱欧”暴露出国际竞争背景下英国社会经济模式存在的结构性问题，新冠肺炎疫情则凸显出英国的能力短板。目前，英国国债已升至2万亿英镑（1英镑约合9元人民币），尽管英国军费预算已达到550亿美元，是世界上第五大军费开支国，但与其野心勃勃进军亚太的计划相比，仍显得“心有余而力不足”。

For one thing, the UK is troubled by both internal and external problems. Brexit has exposed structural problems in its social and economic mode in the background of international competition, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed its social shortcomings. At present, Britain’s national debts have soared to 2 trillion pounds. Although it boasts the fifth largest military spending globally with a military budget of USD 55 billion, that’s just a drop in the ocean compared to its ambitious plan for getting its hand in the Asia Pacific.

另一方面，亚太局势扑朔迷离。随着世界各大国争相角逐，当前的亚太地区可谓风高浪急，尽管美国、日本等国对英国转向亚太地区均表示欢迎并极力拉拢，但其背后是基于自身利益的考量。面对各国之间的激烈竞争，英国在该地区角色如何定位、利益诉求如何实现等，都是未知数。因此，英国跟风转向亚太地区并非明智之举。

For another, the Asian-Pacific situation remains uncertain and complicated. Currently, the region is under the global spotlight as it is the target of major-country contention. Although countries like the US and Japan have expressed welcome to UK’s joining and tried hard to rope it in, they are driven by their own interests. Given the intense competition among various parties, there is a big question mark on what kind of a role Britain will play in the region and how it can realize its interests. In brief, it’s not a wise move for the UK to go with the stream of engaging in the Asia Pacific.