VOA慢速英语2014 东盟讨论中国南海及其他问题

 

AS IT IS 2014-08-08 ASEAN to Discuss South China Sea, Other Issues 东盟讨论中国南海及其他问题

Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries are gathering¹ in Myanmar this week for two meetings.  The United States, China and other countries are sending representatives to the meetings. 

The talks are taking place in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, also known as Burma.  They come as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations continues preparations to launch its integrated economic community next year.  ASEAN officials say the planned system would ease restrictions² on trade and labor³ across borders. 

Much of the change in Southeast Asia has come from economic forces.  But there are political issues dividing ASEAN member countries.  One example is the South China Sea dispute. 

Daniel Russel is the top United States diplomat⁴ for East Asia.  He says China’s temporary deployment⁵ of an oil platform in disputed waters has increased tension in the area.

“China, as a large and powerful nation, has a special responsibility to show restraint.  There is a big footprint that comes with military strength and it warrants setting your feet very, very carefully -- treading very gingerly when you are in a sensitive area.”

Secretary of State John Kerry plans to attend the conference in Myanmar.  A U.S. diplomat says Secretary Kerry will urge China and its neighbors to agree to voluntarily end actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea.                                             

Panitan Wattanayagorn studies issues of concern to ASEAN.  He says progress on major issues will remain slow because of past events.

“This region is, of course, full of, in the past, suspicious intents, lack of trust, especially in terms of military capability⁶, especially in terms of the growth of the big powers.  The region has gone through so many decades of turmoil⁷ during the colonial period, during the Cold War period.”

Thailand has faced diplomatic pressure from Western countries since Thai military officers ousted⁸ the civilian⁹ government in May.  The pressure has included cuts in assistance to the Thai military.                                         

The ouster of the civilian government also has led ASEAN members and others to believe that Thailand could be moving toward a closer relationship with China.

“The Thai representatives need to assure that that will not be the case, that will be a more balanced approach, getting engaged with all countries, like Myanmar, like Cambodia, like most of the rest off the ASEAN members.  They have to be more well-rounded, they have to be more multi-dimensional.”

This year, Myanmar is chairing ASEAN meetings for the first time.  Some ASEAN officials are not sure the country can provide effective leadership.  They note that Myanmar is dealing¹⁰ with ethnic¹¹ unrest and rebel groups.  At the same time, the country is moving away from years of military rule.                 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations was created in 1967.  The group has always made a point of not criticizing its members.  That has led to results that have earned little praise or general agreements on important issues.  This has made some people question the value of ASEAN in a fast-changing world.  I’m Bob Doughty¹².

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

5 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

6 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

7 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

12 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。