Standoffs in the South China Sea are growing between the Philippines and China.菲律宾和中国在南海的对峙日益加剧。

By Laura Bicker Asia Pacific correspondent

"We're scared of China," fisherman Benjo Atay says as wind and rain batter his small bamboo boat on the island of Palawan in the Philippines.

“我们害怕中国，”菲律宾渔民本卓·阿塔伊（Benjo Atay）这样说着，风和雨正拍打着他在巴拉望岛上的小竹船。

He shouts orders at his young crew, most of them family, as they haul on ropes to navigate out of the port. They are already bathed in salt water and sweat - but it is not the weather that frightens them.

他对自己的年轻船员呼喊着指令，当中大部分是家人，他们拉着绳索将船开出港口。海水和汗液已经浸透了他们全身——但是让他们害怕的并不是天气。

"The Chinese ships circle us and shadow us," he says. "When we are anchored... they would force us to leave. They would get rid of us."

“中国的船只在我们周围绕圈，像影子一样跟着，”他说，“我们下锚时……他们会逼我们离开。他们会把我们赶走。”

The Philippines is at the centre of a tense territorial standoff with Beijing in the South China Sea.

在与北京紧张的南中国海领海对峙当中，菲律宾处在中心位置。

It is among several countries that have protested against a map issued by China this week which reiterated its claim to over 90% of the sea.

中国在本周发布一张地图，重申对南中国海超过90%的主权主张，菲律宾是提出抗议的几个国家之一。

Where previously Manila may have softly whimpered at China's actions to block its ships, its voice has now soared to a roar, emboldened by support from Washington and its allies.

马尼拉此前对中国封锁其船只的行为或许只是轻声抗议，而现在，在华盛顿及其盟友的支持下，这种声明已经变成了咆哮。

"We are worried [about rising tensions], of course, but that doesn't daunt us," said Jonathan E Malaya, the assistant director general of the Philippines National Security Council.

“我们当然担心（紧张局势升级），但这并不会吓倒我们，”菲律宾国家安全委员会助理总干事乔纳森·E·马拉亚（Jonathan E Malaya）说。

In recent months, the Philippines has given the US access to key military bases, hosted the largest-ever joint military drills between the two countries, and repeatedly called out Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea. Even as Philippine and Chinese coastguards engage in a now-familiar cat-and-mouse game on the disputed waters, Manila has announced plans to train fishermen to protect their territory out at sea.

近几个月来，菲律宾允许美国进入重要军事基地，主办两国有史以来最大规模的联合军事演习，并多次谴责北京在南海的侵略行为。尽管菲律宾和中国海岸警卫队在争议水域进行了一场现在熟悉的猫捉老鼠游戏，但马尼拉已宣布计划培训渔民保护其海上领土。

The message is clear. "If you are a Filipino, whether in government or [the] private sector, regardless of your politics, defending and making excuses for China's aggressive behaviour should deem you unpatriotic, and a traitor to the Philippines and to our people," Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the coastguard in the West Philippine Sea wrote on social media.

消息很明确。 “如果你是一名菲律宾人，无论是在政府还是私营部门，无论你的政治立场如何，为中国的侵略行为辩护和找借口都应该被视为不爱国，是菲律宾和我们人民的叛徒，”杰伊·塔里拉（Jay Tarriela）说。西菲律宾海海岸警卫队发言人在社交媒体上写道。

China's claims, which extend to all of the South China Sea, rival not just the Philippines but also Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. These are not new but they are getting louder - and dicier.

中国的主权主张延伸到整个南海，不仅与菲律宾竞争，还与越南、台湾、马来西亚和文莱竞争。这些并不是什么新鲜事，但它们的声音越来越大，也越来越危险。

The latest episode revolves around the remote Ayungin shoal that lies more than 620 miles (998km) from mainland China's southernmost shore, and around 120 miles from Palawan island.

最新的事件围绕着偏远的仁爱礁（Ayungin shoal，又称“阿云津礁”或“仁爱暗沙”）展开，该珊瑚礁距中国大陆最南端海岸约620英里（998公里），距巴拉望岛约120英里。

The Sierra Madre is beached on the Ayungin Shoal 马德雷山脉搁浅在阿云金浅滩

Chinese vessels have used water cannon and lasers to deter the Philippine coastguard from getting close to the shoal in the last six months. The boats were carrying essential water and food to troops aboard a rusting warship - named Sierra Madre - that Manila intentionally grounded on a reef in their waters. It was a determined and calculated move to try to keep a presence on the shoal.

过去六个月里，中国船只使用水炮和激光阻止菲律宾海岸警卫队接近该浅滩。这些船只正在为一艘名为“塞拉马德雷”的生锈军舰上的部队运送必需的水和食物，马尼拉故意将这艘军舰搁浅在其水域的礁石上。这是一个坚决且经过深思熟虑的举动，试图在浅滩上保持存在。

This is territory the Philippines won in an international court in 2016, after a tribunal said Beijing's sweeping claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea had no legal basis.

这是菲律宾于 2016 年在国际法庭上赢得的领土，此前法庭表示，北京对南海大部分地区的全面主权主张没有法律依据。

These are lucrative fishing grounds and access to the shoal also means access to nearby Reed Bank, which has significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

这些都是利润丰厚的渔场，进入浅滩也意味着可以进入附近蕴藏着大量石油和天然气的礼乐滩。

Seemingly undeterred by Chinese might, the Philippines tried again to send supplies to its troops on the Sierra Madre - this time, they said they were successful.

菲律宾似乎并不被中国的强势所吓倒，他们再次试图向“马德雷山脉”号上的水兵供应物资——这次他们表示自己成功了。

"It really is a David versus Goliath issue," Mr Malaya said. "But just like David, we will continue to pound and double down on the need to protect the resources which are important for the future of the Philippines."

“这确实是大卫与歌利亚的问题，”马来亚先生说。 “但就像大卫一样，我们将继续努力并加倍努力保护对菲律宾未来至关重要的资源。”

But Beijing does not see it that way. It claims the Sierra Madre is violating its sovereignty. A Chinese coastguard statement described its actions to use a water cannon on the Filipino vessel as "professional and restrained".

然而，北京并不这样看。它声称“马德雷山脉”号侵犯了其主权。中国海岸警卫队的一份声明将其对菲律宾船只使用水炮的行动描述为“专业和克制”。

Manila said it tried to use a hotline it set up with China to defuse the situation, but no-one answered the phone.

马尼拉表示，它试图使用与中国设立的热线来缓和局势，但没有人接听电话。

"We would like to resolve this issue," said Mr Malaya, but admitted that "progress is slow and there is, at present, no meeting of the minds".

“我们希望解决这个问题，”马来亚先生说，但承认“进展缓慢，目前尚未达成共识”。

Unlike his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who sought to court, rather than criticise, China, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos has shifted closer to Washington.

与前任罗德里戈·杜特尔特（Rodrigo Duterte）不同的是，前者寻求与中国结交而不是批评，现任菲律宾总统费迪南德·马科斯（Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos）则是转向与华盛顿靠得更近。

He has also made each spat with Beijing in the South China Sea public. If the Philippine coastguard struggles to re-supply the grounded ship on Ayungin shoal, it is televised. Crucially, the US is not too far away.

他也对外公开了菲律宾与中国在南中国海的每一次争端。如果菲律宾海岸警卫队无法向仁爱礁的搁浅船只运送补给，这一情况就会在电视上播放。关键的一点是，美国人离这里并不远。

President Marcos with US President Joe Biden during a visit to the White House in May 马科斯总统与美国总统乔·拜登五月访问白宫期间

China's "aggressive behaviour" in the South China Sea must be challenged and checked, the commander of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet said earlier this week.

美国海军第七舰队司令本周早些时候表示，中国在南海的“侵略行为”必须受到挑战和制止。

Vice Admiral Karl Thomas assured Manila it had US backing in the face of "shared challenges" in the region. "My forces are out here for a reason," he told Reuters news agency. "You have to challenge people I would say operating in a grey zone. When they're taking a little bit more and more and pushing you, you've got to push back, you have to sail and operate."

卡尔·托马斯中将向马尼拉保证，面对该地区的“共同挑战”，美国会提供支持。 “我的部队来这里是有原因的，”他告诉路透社。 “你必须挑战那些在灰色地带运作的人。当他们越来越多地向你施压时，你必须反击，你必须航行并运作。”

Beijing responded by accusing the US of distorting the facts and sowing discord to "project power".

北京则回应指美国“歪曲事实、挑拨离间、炫耀武力”。

Washington was once ambiguous about Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, and some nations in this region are still never sure they can trust its message of support. A change of administration can also mean a change of heart.

华盛顿曾经对北京在南海的行动含糊其辞，该地区的一些国家仍然不确定他们是否可以相信其支持的信息。政府的改变也可能意味着心态的改变。

But for now the US is demonstrating that it will show up for its allies in Asia. And it's not just the US that has been showing up in the South China Sea.

但目前美国正在表明，它将为其亚洲盟友提供支持。出现在南海的不仅仅是美国。

Last week, the US, Japan and Australia held joint drills with the Philippines, which Tokyo's ambassador to Manila described as a "significant moment of defence". Forces from Australia and the Philippines also took part in the largest-ever military exercises held between the two nations, which included a mock beach landing and air assault manoeuvres near the South China Sea.

上周，美国、日本和澳大利亚与菲律宾举行了联合演习，东京驻马尼拉大使称这是“重要的防御时刻”。澳大利亚和菲律宾军队还参加了两国有史以来最大规模的军事演习，其中包括在南中国海附近进行模拟海滩登陆和空中突击演习。

Nowhere else do so many nations come so close to a rival force, which raises fears of a miscalculation during these sea skirmishes.

没有任何其他地区会有如此多的国家与一个对抗势力靠得如此之近，这引发了人们对于这些海上小型冲突当中出现误判的担忧。

Benjo Atay says he is scared to fish in the waters that have been like a second homeBenjo Atay 说他害怕在像第二个家一样的水域钓鱼

For Manila, allied help also comes with the risk of escalating the dispute. But that is a risk Palawan's fishermen may not be willing to take.

对于马尼拉来说，盟军的帮助也伴随着争端升级的风险。但巴拉望岛的渔民可能不愿意冒这个风险。

The Philippine Army Chief of Staff, Romeo Brawner, recently said they plan to recruit fishermen as reservists and train them. The regional officer for the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, Larry Hugo, laughed when the BBC asked him if he knew many fishermen prepared to join such a militia.

菲律宾陆军参谋长罗密欧·布劳纳最近表示，他们计划招募渔民作为预备役人员并对其进行培训。当英国广播公司询问巴拉望卡拉延农民和渔民协会的地区官员拉里·雨果是否知道许多渔民准备加入这样的民兵组织时，他笑了。

"No, no, we don't want to join," he said. "It's hard if China would detect us. Fishermen from here will be targeted. The Chinese are becoming more aggressive. They've increased in numbers too."

“不，不，我们不想加入，”他说。 “如果中国发现我们就很难了。这里的渔民将成为目标。中国人变得更加咄咄逼人。他们的数量也有所增加。”

Mr Malaya from the Philippines National Security Council says the Chinese are also using hundreds of fishing vessels near the Ayungin shoal, which are in effect militia vessels.

菲律宾国家安全委员会的马来亚先生表示，中国还在阿云金浅滩附近使用了数百艘渔船，这些渔船实际上是民兵船只。

"They are instruments of Chinese power, they are part of the military apparatus of China. They serve to intimidate and harass our fishermen in the area," he added.

“它们是中国权力的工具，是中国军事机构的一部分。它们的目的是恐吓和骚扰我们在该地区的渔民，”他补充道。

Beijing, however, denies that such a militia exists.

然而，北京否认存在这样的民兵组织。

Whether it does or not, Benjo Atay says he is not prepared to even risk sailing near those waters, let alone fight.

无论是否如此，本乔·阿泰表示，他甚至不准备冒险在这些水域附近航行，更不用说战斗了。

He has fished near Ayungin shoal since he was 14. It is named after the near-endangered fish endemic to the Philippines, well-known to families living off a tight budget.

他从 14 岁起就在阿云金浅滩附近钓鱼。它以菲律宾特有的濒临灭绝的鱼类命名，这种鱼类在预算紧张的家庭中很常见。

There was a time when, for months, he and other fishermen from the scattered islands near Palawan sailed close to Chinese boats in the same waters.

曾几何时，他和来自巴拉望岛附近分散岛屿的其他渔民在同一水域靠近中国船只航行。

Now in his 30s, Mr Atay's concern for the crew's safety outweighs the lure of a significant catch.

现年 30 多岁的 Atay 先生对船员安全的担忧超过了大渔获量的诱惑。

"I don't think we will go back there. We are really scared. They might fire their water cannon. Of course, we just have a wooden boat. We're really afraid of going back there."

“我不认为我们会回到那里。我们真的很害怕。他们可能会发射高压水枪。当然，我们只有一艘木船。我们真的很害怕回到那里。”

The coastal communities of Palawan depend on fishing for their livelihoods 巴拉望沿海社区依靠捕鱼为生

The crystal-clear turquoise seas and white sands of Palawan are idyllic. But to survive here, if you do not fish, you do not eat.

巴拉望岛晶莹剔透、碧绿的海水和白色的沙滩充满田园诗般的景色。但为了在这里生存，如果你不钓鱼，你就不会吃饭。

For generations, the people of this island have carved out communities from rocky bays and sandy shores: single-room homes with corrugated iron roofs where babies sleep in hammocks strung across the kitchen.

世世代代，这个岛上的人们在岩石海湾和沙滩上开辟了社区：带有波纹铁皮屋顶的单间房屋，婴儿睡在厨房挂的吊床上。

A storm has grounded most of the boats, so some venture out on foot into the shallows to wade with nets and buckets for shellfish. Others are using the time to repair boats and nets.

暴风雨使大部分船只搁浅，因此有些船只冒险步行到浅滩，用网和水桶涉水捕捞贝类。其他人则利用这段时间修理船只和渔网。

The children have a day off school and battle on a makeshift basketball court surrounded by the resting upturned boats. Some of them say they want to be professional basketball players, but when asked if they want to be fishermen, the answer is a resounding yes.

孩子们放了一天假，在一个临时篮球场上打球，周围是停泊的翻船。他们中的一些人说他们想成为职业篮球运动员，但当被问到是否想成为渔民时，答案是肯定的。

"It's getting harder each year," Mr Atay says. "How could we work properly when we're afraid? We can't focus on fishing so we just stay on the island where we Filipinos are allowed."

“事情一年比一年困难，”阿泰先生说。 “当我们害怕的时候，我们怎么能正常工作呢？我们不能专注于捕鱼，所以我们只能呆在菲律宾人被允许的岛上。”

These communities are determined to keep their heads down during these territorial disputes. But their future may depend on any outcome.

这些社区决心在这些领土争端中保持低调。但他们的未来可能取决于任何结果。

That future was once dependant on wind and tide. Now it will depend on the resolve of world leaders.

这个未来曾经依赖于风和潮汐。现在这将取决于世界领导人的决心。