VOA慢速英语2015 东盟代表们关注领土争端

AS IT IS 2015-04-28 At ASEAN, Territorial¹ Dispute Gets Delegates’ Attention 东盟代表们关注领土争端

Leaders from Southeast Asian nations are meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. The leaders have called for a peaceful settlement of competing territorial claims in the South China Sea. Their calls are a sign of growing tensions because of Chinese activities in the Spratly Islands.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is serving as chairman of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He told leaders of the 10-nation group on Monday to follow peaceful settlement claims in the South China Sea. Those waters are said to be rich in oil and other natural resources.

Mr. Najib urged completion of talks on a draft or planned Code of Conduct governing use of the South China Sea. Negotiations² on the measure began in 2002.

“We need to peacefully manage differences closer to home, including overlapping³ maritime⁴ claims, without increasing tensions. Recent developments have raised concerns about the South China Sea - and given the importance of its sea lanes to international trade, it is natural that almost any occurrence there will attract global attention. ASEAN must address these developments in a proactive, but also in a positive and constructive⁵ way." 

China’s land reclamation⁶ has increased tensions

Tensions over territorial claims in the South China Sea have intensified⁷ after the recent release of satellite images. They showed that China is taking steps to develop the disputed Spratly Islands. The waters around the islands are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas. Observers believe China is expanding its claim to the area by building military bases and airstrips.

The Spratly Islands are more than 3,000 kilometers from China. They are 860 kilometers from the Philippines and even closer to the coast of Vietnam. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have claimed parts of the area around the islands.

In 2012, China and ASEAN did make progress in talks about the draft Code of Conduct. The goal was to protect the political, economic and territorial interests of states in the area.

Mr. Najib said he would be pressing for more progress in talks this week.

“As Chairman, Malaysia hopes that we will achieve progress in our efforts towards an early conclusion of a Code of Conduct.”

On Sunday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario called on ASEAN to press China to immediately stop its “massive reclamations” of land. Mr. Del Rosario said China was in a position to effectively take control of the South China Sea. He said this would have effects reaching beyond Southeast Asia.

Vietnam also opposes Chinese claims in the area. Last year, violent anti-Chinese protests followed a move by China to set up an oil drilling platform in waters claimed by Vietnam. China later withdrew the structure.

However, observers note there are deep divisions in ASEAN. Many Southeast Asian countries are heavily dependent on China’s economy for their own economic growth. This makes a unified⁸ effort to balance China’s economic power a difficult issue.

For example, China is a major trading partner with Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. These countries have no claims in the South China Sea.

Also, Thailand has increased military ties with China. Links between the sides have expanded since the Thai military ousted⁹ Thailand’s government in May of last year.

In 2012, ASEAN countries failed to reach agreement over how to deal with China’s activities in the South China Sea because of divisions between its members.

Words in This Story

reclamation – n. to make land available for use by changing its condition; reclaiming¹⁰ land from the sea

proactive – adj. controlling a situation by making things happen or by preparing for future problems

conduct – n. the way that a person or group behaves in a place or situation; v. to guide or lead; to direct the performance of someone or something

1 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 overlapping   

adj./n.交迭（的）

参考例句：

• There is no overlapping question between the two courses. 这两门课程之间不存在重叠的问题。
• A trimetrogon strip is composed of three rows of overlapping. 三镜头摄影航线为三排重迭的象片所组成。

4 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。

5 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

6 reclamation   

n.开垦；改造；（废料等的）回收

参考例句：

• We should encourage reclamation and recycling.我们应当鼓励废物的回收和利用。
• The area is needed for a land reclamation project.一个土地开垦项目要在这一地区进行。

7 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

9 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。

10 reclaiming   

v.开拓( reclaim的现在分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• People here are reclaiming land from the sea. 这儿的人们正在填海拓地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• How could such a man need reclaiming? 这么一个了不起的人怎么还需要别人拯救呢？ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹