抗衡中國挑釁
Filipino military chief General Romeo Brawner announced that the Philippines will develop islands in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory, making them more suitable for military habitation.
菲律賓參謀總長羅密歐·布勞納將軍宣布，菲律賓將在南海開發其認為屬於本國領土的島嶼，使其更適合軍隊駐紮。
military chief參謀總長=chief of staffterritory(n.)領土;國土;疆土habitation(n.)居住inhabit(v.)居住unfit for human habitation(房屋)不適合人居住
Covering around nine disputed locations, these plans threaten to inflame already high tensions with China over strategic maritime positions.
這些計劃涉及約九個有爭議的地點，有可能加劇中菲兩國在海上戰略位置上的矛盾。
disputed(adj.)有爭議的=contesteddispute(n.)爭執;爭端;糾紛(v.)(對…)有異議;不贊同disputed territory爭議領土inflame(v.)激怒、加劇、給…火上加油=add fuel to the flames
However, diplomatic efforts have been sought to help mitigate any potentially dangerous outcomes.
不過，兩國已尋求透過外交努力來幫助緩解任何潛在的危險結果。
diplomatic(adj.)外交的diplomatic relations外交關係diplomatic negotiations外交談判seek-sought-sought尋求mitigate(v.)緩解=alleviate=relieve=easeoutcome(n.)結果=resultconsequence(n.)後果
According to Richard Javad Heydarian’s January 16 Asia Times article, this new push by the Philippines to enhance its defensive capabilities in the South China Sea is largely an “effort to catch up with rivals and make up for years of strategic passivity,” which began roughly when Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s dictatorship ended.
理查德·賈瓦德·海達里安在1月16日發表於《亞洲時報》的文章指出，菲律賓積極在南海增強防禦能力的新舉措，主要是「為了迎頭趕上競爭對手，彌補多年來的戰略被動」，而菲律賓的戰略被動大約始於老馬可仕獨裁統治結束的時候。
largely(adv.)主要地;大多;在很大程度上=mostly=mainly=for the most partmake up for彌補=compensate for=make amends forroughly(adv.)大約;大概=arounddictatorship(n.)獨裁;獨裁統治dictator(n.)獨裁者;獨裁政權
In the meantime, countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and China had been working to build “substantial facilities on disputed South China Sea features.”
同時，越南、馬來西亞、臺灣和中國等國一直致力於「在南海的爭議島嶼上建設實質設施」。
in the meantime與此同時=meanwhile=at the same timefeature(n.)(地理)特徵;地物
Following limited efforts in the late 2010s to maintain and upgrade military facilities on Thitu Island, one of the South China Sea’s contested features, current Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration is looking to expand these initiatives.
2010年代末，菲律賓在南海其中一個爭議島嶼中業島上進行了有限的軍事設施維護和升級工作，之後，菲律賓現任總統小馬可仕的政府正尋求擴大這些舉措。
contested(adj.)爭議性的look to VR尋求initiative(n.)倡議;提案
Beyond Thitu Island, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also focusing on fortifying “its de facto military base over the Second Thomas Shoal,” which has been the site of several recent clashes between Filipino and Chinese forces.
除中業島外，菲律賓武裝部隊還在重點加強「其在仁愛暗沙上的實質軍事基地」，最近菲律賓和中國軍隊在該淺灘發生了幾次衝突。
beyond(prep.)除了…之外=in addition tofortify(v.)(尤指為防禦而)加強;增強de facto實際上的、事實上的de facto embassy實質大使館the Second Thomas Shoal第二托馬斯礁、仁愛暗沙shoal(n.)淺灘;沙洲clash(n.)衝突=conflict
To match these plans, Marcos Jr. has also fostered closer military alliances with the US, Japan, Australia and the UK over the past year.
為了配合這些計劃，小馬可仕在過去一年內與美國、日本、澳洲和英國建立了更緊密的軍事聯盟。
foster(v.)促進、培養foster democracy and prosperity促進民主與繁榮
Given its “reclamation activities” in the South China Sea over the past decade, China is likely to be opposed to these new Filipino defensive initiatives, as they threaten Beijing’s dominance in the greater Pacific region.
鑑於中國過去十年在南海的「填海活動」，中國很可能會反對菲律賓這些新的防禦舉措，因為這些舉措威脅到北京在整個太平洋地區的主導地位。
given(prep.)有鑑於;考量到=considering=in light of=in view ofreclamation(n.)填海造陸be opposed to反對=object to=be againstdominance(n.)主導地位;支配地位;優勢
In fact, Heydarian notes that, without “diplomatic efforts,” these actions by the Philippines could unintentionally provoke China.
事實上，海達里安指出，如果沒有「外交努力，菲律賓的這些行動可能會無意中激怒中國。
in fact事實上=as a matter of factunintentionally(adv.)無意地;無心地;非故意的intentionally(adv.)故意地=on purpose=purposely=deliberatelyprovoke(v.)挑釁=inflame
Coincidentally, increased “diplomatic efforts” were announced by the foreign ministries of both the Philippines and China on January 17 as the two nations publicly committed to improving conflict management and communication, especially regarding activities in the South China Sea.
巧合的是，菲律賓和中國外交部於1月17日宣布加強「外交努力」，兩國公開承諾改善衝突管理和溝通，尤其是在南海活動方面。
commit to sth.承諾做某事情regarding(prep.)關於=with regard to=with respect to=concerning