By Zhang Chi
章池
Foreign media reported that Germany has frequently taken part in overseas military operations lately, its ambition to enhance regional military presence triggering many debates and worries in the international community.
据外媒报道，最近一段时间，德国频繁在海外遂行军事行动，显现拓展地区军事存在的野心，引发外界热议和担忧。
Germany's frequent overseas operations
海外行动很频繁
In general, Germany has recently enhanced its military deployments overseas, with Europe and Asia Pacific as the priority areas.
综合来看，德国近期以欧洲和亚太地区为重点，双线并行加强海外军事部署。
In Europe, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently said Germany will form the largest conventional forces among NATO's European members. It will also enhance military presence on the east wing of NATO and along the Baltic Sea to provide help for NATO's East European members.
欧洲方向，德国总理朔尔茨近日表示，德国将组建北约欧洲成员国中最大规模的常规部队。他透露，德国将加强北约东翼及波罗的海沿海地区的军事存在，为北约的东欧成员国提供相关帮助。
It is learned that the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, has begun to send commanding troops to Lithuania that will be stationed in this Baltic country, and troops in Germany will also go there regularly for exercises.
据悉，近日，德国联邦国防军开始陆续向立陶宛派遣指挥部队，指挥部队将长期驻扎在波罗的海国家，德国本土战斗部队定期赴该地区参加演习。
At the same time, Bundeswehr is being very active in other European countries too. Germany and the Netherlands even formed an Air and Missile Defence Task Force to protect Slovakia’s air space. By the same token, the German Air Force sent a team of five fighter jets to be stationed in Ämari, Estonia at the end of July, after participating in an operation protecting Romania's air space in early 2022.
与此同时，德国联邦国防军在欧洲其他国家行动活跃。近日，德国与荷兰联合组建斯洛伐克空中导弹防御特遣部队，用于保护斯洛伐克领空。同样以保护领空为名，今年7月底，德国空军一支装备5架战斗机的中队驻扎于爱沙尼亚阿马里镇。今年早些时候，德国空军还参与了保护罗马尼亚领空的行动。
In the Asia Pacific, Germany is closely watching the military development of the countries in this region and will assign more warships and hold exercises with its allies to expand its military presence.
亚太方向，德国密切关注亚太地区相关国家的军力建设动向，并将派遣更多军舰及与盟国举行演习，以扩大其在亚太地区的军事存在。
In 2021, German frigate Bayern sailed to the Asia Pacific for a six-month training voyage, during which it visited Australia, America's Guam, and Japan, and hold joint military exercises with the allies. In August this year, Germany assigned 13 military planes to Australia for a joint exercise, after which they will flow to Singapore, Japan and ROK for more exercises. It also plans to send two warships to the Pacific Ocean for training.
2021年，德国“巴伐利亚”号护卫舰赴亚太地区进行为期6个月的训练航行。其间，该舰访问了澳大利亚、美国关岛和日本，并与盟国军舰举行联合军事演习。今年8月，德国派遣13架军机，赴澳大利亚参加联合军事演习，随后还将起程飞往新加坡、日本和韩国，在新加坡和日本参加军事演习。此外，德国还计划派遣两艘军舰前往太平洋进行训练。
Germany's military ambition calls for alert.
军事野心引担忧
Germany's frequent military operations overseas recently are considered detrimental to regional security and stability.
对于德国近期频繁遂行海外军事行动的做法，外界认为其不利于地区安全稳定。
On the one hand, they break the military balance in Europe. European media commented that the Bundeswehr hopes to break away from the previous shackles through these actions, and German media reported that the German government will allocate a 100 billion Euro (about 100.9 billion dollars) special fund to update and replenish equipment for the Bundeswehr. Such an ambitious military expansion plan has set other European countries on edge. Kaczyński, leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party, said Germany's attempt to free itself from the current constitution may send the world down the same path leading to WWII and threaten the security of its neighbor Poland.
一方面，破坏欧洲军事平衡。欧洲媒体评论认为，德国联邦国防军希望通过上述举动，摆脱过往“束缚”。据德国媒体报道，德国政府将拨付一笔1000亿欧元的特别资金，用于联邦国防军更新和补充装备。德国野心勃勃的军事扩张计划，引发欧洲国家不安。波兰执政党法律与正义党领导人卡钦斯基表示，德国意图冲破现有宪法约束的做法，或将重蹈第二次世界大战覆辙，威胁邻国波兰的安全。
On the other hand, they damage the security and stability in the Asia Pacific. Britain's Reuters commented that Germany has been very cautious with its security policy after the end of WWII and paid more attention to trade when dealing with other countries. However, seeing western countries sticking their fingers in the Asia Pacific one after another in recent years, it becomes impatient and wants to insert its military presence there. In 2020, Germany released its guidebook on Asian Pacific diplomatic policy, taking the first step toward a broader plan for engaging in the region.
另一方面，损害亚太安全稳定。英国路透社评论称，第二次世界大战结束后，德国在安全政策上一直谨慎有加，其更注重国际关系中的贸易方面，但近年来，随着西方国家不断介入亚太事务，德国愈发按捺不住，意图在该地区的军事存在上占有一席之地。2020年，德国发布亚太外交政策指南，开始为介入亚太地区事务谋篇布局。
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the signal from the German government to militarily engage in one of the most geopolitically important regions in the world says much about its new strategic position.
《法兰克福汇报》报道称，德国政府发出信号，准备在全球地缘政治最重要的地区之一进行军事介入，体现新的战略定位。
Germany is moving faster in military expansion.
扩军步伐将加快
Analysts said German Bundeswehr's constant appearance in overseas military operations lately stems from NATO's defense vacuum in Europe caused by America's strategic shift to the east and from the security threats from the changing military situation in Europe. As the Bundeswehr seems to take the opportunity to strongly develop itself, its two tendencies are worth close attention and vigilance.
分析认为，德国联邦国防军近期在海外行动中的高频出场，源于美国战略东移留出的北约欧洲防务空缺和欧洲地区军事形势变化带来的安全威胁。德国联邦国防军借机大力发展军力，未来两大倾向值得关注和警惕。
One is military adventurism. It is generally believed that Olaf Scholz steered Germany's defense policy toward the US and NATO after he came into power with a view to seeking a greater presence in the Pacific and other regions. As a result, the Bundeswehr's defense philosophy has gradually changed from constraint to proactivity, and Germany will only become more eager to reinforce and expand its deterrence with the ongoing military adventurism.
一个是军事冒进倾向。外界评论认为，朔尔茨执政后，德国防务政策向美国和北约倾倒，寻求增加太平洋等地区的存在感。德国联邦国防军的防务理念逐渐从“克制文化”转向“主动进取”。未来，随着军事冒进倾向加剧，德国强化延伸威慑的意愿或将更强烈。
The other is exaggerated self-abasement. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the Bundeswehr has an extreme shortage of weapon inventory, which, according to analysts, is actually a carefully deliberated and crafted excuse for military build-up. Berlin may continue to play this trick as it promotes military development to meet the goal of building a strong military in the shortest time.
另一个是假意唱衰倾向。近日，德国外交部长贝尔伯克称，德国联邦国防军武器库存严重短缺。分析人士认为，其言论表面上是“自曝家丑”，实则战略考量深厚，是为军力发展寻找“噱头”。在未来的推进军力发展过程中，德国或继续“唱衰”，以配合快速强军目标。
