VOA标准英语2009年-World Watches as New Japanese Leader Prepa

For now there remain more questions than answers about how the government of Japan's new prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, will shape its foreign policy. There have been some indications he will seek to forge closer relations with East Asia, and possibly temper the country's tight alliance with the United States.
　
Yukio Hatoyama stands after a press conference in front of a white board full of red rosettes attached on victorious¹ candidates' names, in Tokyo, early Monday, 31 Aug 2009

Yukio Hatoyama, the presumed next prime minister of Japan, has made it fairly clear he will end at least one Japanese collaboration² with the international community: the refueling of naval³ vessels⁴ in the Indian Ocean taking part in international stabilization⁵ efforts in Afghanistan. The U.S. government has repeatedly praised that effort.

Ian Kelly, a State Department spokesman, says Washington will wait to see what Japan decides on another security issue: whether to contribute troops to the Afghanistan effort.

"A stable prosperous Afghanistan is in the interest of the entire international community, including Japan," Kelly said, "but of course it's up to each country to determine how they can best contribute to that effort, and we of course look forward to working with the new government when it's formed and we look forward to a discussion of what kind of role Japan will play. But we'll see how things play out in the next few months."

Afghanistan is one of several areas in which some political analysts⁶ believe Japan may cool its cooperation with the United States.

Meiji University Professor Tomohiko Taniguchi says Mr. Hatoyama's party, the DPJ, views the U.S. relationship as less central to Japanese foreign policy than the outgoing conservatives.

"It's evinced by the conviction that many DPJ politicians seem to have of the necessity to reduce the footprint of the U.S. military still further," Taniguchi said. "They're talking about reducing the amount of host-nation support budget to the United States."

Washington stations about 50,000 U.S. forces in Japan. The United States says it will not renegotiate a recently completed deal on U.S. military bases here.

Jeffrey Kingston is director of Asian Studies at the Temple University campus in Tokyo. He says this is a good time for Tokyo to get proactive in relations with the U.S.

"Under Obama in this multi-polar world, allies are going to be asked to pony⁷ up [contribute]," Kingston said. "What is Japan willing to do? Don't just say this is what we can't do, are not prepared to do, our constitution prevents us from doing, tell us what you can do."

In Asia, one thing Mr. Hatoyama may do is seek tighter economic ties with China, Japan's largest trading partner.

He can also put some distance between himself and Japan's militaristic history.

He vows⁸ he will not visit Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine⁹, where war criminals are enshrined, alongside other war dead.

The world may have some time to wait before Japan raises its voice on international policy; Mr. Hatoyama campaigned almost exclusively on domestic economic issues. Kick-starting growth is likely to be the new government's main focus during its first year in office.

1 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

2 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

3 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

8 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

9 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。