2016年CRI South China Sea Issue Should Not Overshadow China's Security Commitment: Expert

 

Defense¹ ministers and security experts from Asia and other regions are gathered in Singapore for the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue.

The forum² was established in 2002 as a platform for Asian and global security professionals to increase communication and practical security cooperation.

While much of the focus this year has been put on the South China Sea, observers attending the sessions are suggesting the over-riding area not being discussed in the media is China's commitment to maintaining regional security in Asia.

Zheng Yongnian is the director of the Institute of East Asian Studies with the National University of Singapore.

He says overemphasis on the South China Sea is overshadowing China's efforts in regional cooperation.

"I think countries, China and its relationship with the ASEAN included, should not be kidnapped by the South China Sea issue. China has its stance on this issue. This issue should not impact the comprehensive and cooperative partnership³ between China and the ASEAN. But in fact, as soon as it is brought up, this issue would overshadow all others."

Chinese military leaders have become a regular feature at the Shangri-La Dialogue in recent years.

This year, Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the Joint⁴ Staff Department with China's Central Military Commission, has been meeting with various defense officials from Southeast Asian nations, and is also due to deliver a keynote address on China's stance on international and regional security issues in Singapore.

He's also expected to talk about what China has been doing to maintain both global and regional security.

Chinese representations on the roster⁵ this year also include senior researchers and officials from the Chinese military, the Cyberspace⁶ Administration of China and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies.

Li Mingjiang with Nanyang University in Singapore says Chinese speeches at the Shangri-La talks are always closely-watched.

"The delegations⁷ China has dispatched in recent years, be they functionary⁸ or scholastic⁹, have all had strong line-ups. Their ranks have included people with sound understanding of both policy and skills in cross-culture communication. Chinese delegations offer a highlight each and every year. Foreign media and other delegations have all paid close attention to them."

This year's Shangri-La Dialogue runs through this Sunday.

A number of Asian countries, as well as the US, Canada, the UK, France and Australia, have also sent senior government and defense officials to Singapore.

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。

6 cyberspace   

n.虚拟信息空间，网络空间，计算机化世界

参考例句：

• She travels in cyberspace by sending messages to friends around the world.她利用电子空间给世界各地的朋友们发送信件。
• The teens spend more time in cyberspace than in the real world of friends and family.青少年花费在电脑上的时间比他们和真正的朋友及家人在一起的时间要多。

7 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

8 functionary   

n.官员；公职人员

参考例句：

• No functionary may support or cover up unfair competition acts.国家官员不得支持、包庇不正当竞争行为。
• " Emigrant," said the functionary,"I am going to send you on to Paris,under an escort."“ 外逃分子，”那官员说，“我要把你送到巴黎去，还派人护送。”

9 scholastic   

adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的

参考例句：

• There was a careful avoidance of the sensitive topic in the scholastic circles.学术界小心地避开那个敏感的话题。
• This would do harm to students' scholastic performance in the long run.这将对学生未来的学习成绩有害。