Mr Johnson made his comments following a joint meeting between British and Australian foreign and defence ministers, who discussed closer defence and trade co-operation as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

　　约翰逊发表上述言论前，英国、澳大利亚两国外交和国防大臣举行了一场联席会议，讨论了在英国准备退出欧盟之际进行更紧密的防务与贸易合作。

　　The foreign secretary told The Australian newspaper that legal certainty in the South China Sea was important and that Britain had a role to play in the region that would be welcomed by many.

　　英国外交大臣对《澳大利亚人报》(The Australian)表示，南中国海的法律确定性非常重要，英国在该地区可扮演重要角色，这将受到许多国家的欢迎。

　　“People want the involvement of a country that sticks up for the rules-based international system, that is prepared to deploy its military in the area,” he added.

　　他补充说：“人们希望一个支持以规则为基础的国际体系、且准备在该地区部署军事力量的国家介入进来。”

　　On Sunday a US spy plane had to take action to avoid a Chinese fighter jet over the East China Sea. Any British freedom of navigation operation would probably incur the wrath of Beijing, which is asserting its claims to the contested waters.

　　上周日，一架美国侦察机不得不采取规避动作，避免在东中国海上空与一架中国战斗机发生碰撞。英国的任何航行自由行动都很可能招致北京方面的愤怒，北京方面正在竭力声索对这一有争议海域的主权。