2016年CRI China, ASEAN should still focus on cooperation despite ruling

 

Six years after its inauguration¹, the China-ASEAN free trade area generates hundreds of billions of US dollars in trade volume every year.

But Xu Liping with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is warning the overheated dispute in the South China Sea may cause losses to the common interests of the two sides and slow down the development of ASEAN's integration² process.

"The arbitration³ case has undermined the efforts to implement⁴ some cooperation projects between China and ASEAN. Bordering each other, the two sides have signed agreements to form a free trade zone and enhance investment, but all of them have been affected⁵ (by the arbitration case) more or less. This is not good for ASEAN, that is trying to complete the construction of a community largely based on interconnection."

He says interconnection between ASEAN countries heavily relies on improved infrastructure⁶, and China can lend a big hand given its experience in the area and good financial condition.

Chinese authorities have repeatedly noted⁷ that the maritime⁸ disputes in the South China Sea only involve certain ASEAN nations, and it is not an issue between China and ASEAN as a whole.

Professor Xu suggests though the situation in the region has been complicated, especially after a third-party country started to intervene. But he says both China and ASEAN should continue to focus on cooperation.

"It's not a fair arbitration. But in the eyes of some ASEAN countries, China's refusal to accept the ruling is a proof that it bullies⁹ a small country with its might. This impression will do harm to the China-ASEAN relationship, mutual¹⁰ trust, and economic cooperation as well. However, both sides should keep this in mind that cooperation benefits both sides the most."

The professor warns that the Philippines-initiated arbitration will do no good to the the regional order or regional security, but will help the United States to intervene in the South China Sea and hijack¹¹ the regional bloc¹² over the issue.

"The United States is trying to make ASEAN a chess piece in its strategy to re-balance Asia Pacific. It's not in line with the interests of the ASEAN that is pursuing development. Everyone knows China had not and will never invade them. But under US pressure, some of them have to take sides in the maritime dispute. It hampers¹³ the bloc's integration."

China is ASEAN's largest trade partner, while ASEAN ranks as China's third-largest trade partner. Bilateral¹⁴ trade between the two exceeded 470 billion US dollars last year.

China aims to elevate bilateral trade with ASEAN to 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2020 and invest over 100 billion U.S. dollars in ASEAN between 2013 and 2020.

During his speech to the Indonesian parliament in October 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to build a community of common destiny between China and ASEAN.

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

3 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

4 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

9 bullies   

n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负

参考例句：

• Standing up to bullies takes plenty of backbone. 勇敢地对付暴徒需有大无畏精神。
• Bullies can make your life hell. 恃强欺弱者能让你的日子像活地狱。

10 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

11 hijack   

v.劫持，劫机，拦路抢劫

参考例句：

• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。
• The hijack take place just after the plane take off.劫持是飞机刚起飞后发生的。

12 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

13 hampers   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Prejudice sometimes hampers a person from doing the right thing. 有时候，偏见会妨碍人正确行事。
• This behavior is the opposite of modeless feedback, and it hampers flow. 这个行为有悖于非模态的反馈，它阻碍了流。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

14 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。