VOA标准英语2013--Kerry at ASEAN Forum for Talks on S. China Sea Disputes

 

Kerry at ASEAN Forum¹ for Talks on S. China Sea Disputes

U.S.-Philippine naval² cooperation includes unmanned surveillance of waters under dispute with China. 

"The unmanned aerial vehicle will be a very very important tool in our operations in safeguarding the entire maritime³ territory," said Philippine Navy Lieutenant⁴ Rommel Rodriguez.

China is especially concerned about Philippine plans to upgrade the former U.S. naval base at Subic Bay, just 240 kilometers from a disputed shoal that China has controlled since 2012.

China's Communist Party newspaper said a "counterstrike" against the Philippines is inevitable⁵ if Manila continues what Beijing calls "unscrupulous" tricks.

"China urges the Philippines and regional countries to meet one another halfway⁶, make joint⁷ efforts to maintain mutual⁸ trust between countries, make positive efforts towards regional peace and security and play a constructive⁹ role," said Chinese Foreign Ministry¹⁰ spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

Washington said it is not taking sides in the South China Sea and wants to help resolve the disputes peacefully as part of its refocusing on Asia.

"It's certainly part of the rebalance that the U.S. is looking to reinforce not only militarily but economically and politically with Asia," said U.S. Rear Admiral Thomas Carney.

A more active U.S. Navy with a Visiting Forces Agreement in the Philippines is an important check on China, says University of the Philippines professor Clarita Carlos.

"Given all the provocations¹¹ from China in trying to get for herself all those islands, reefs, etc., and other features in the South China Sea, I think this is one way of telegraphing to her, we also have the capability¹² if we want to, of course supported by the United States of America," Carlos explained.

But a more aggressive Philippines may make China even less willing to compromise, says American University professor Pek Koon Heng.

"It's going to make it even more difficult. It's going to just harden the Chinese position about working with ASEAN," he added.

Heng expects this year's ASEAN ministerial in Brunei to be far different from last year's meeting in Cambodia where China helped scuttle¹³ a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

"Secretary Kerry has got an ASEAN that is more cohesive¹⁴ after China divided ASEAN in the last foreign minister meeting," Heng said.

Foreign ministers at this meeting are also expected to discuss the war in Syria, as well as a U.S. surveillance program leaked by former intelligence analyst¹⁵ Edward Snowden. 

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

6 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

7 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。

8 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。

9 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。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 provocations   

n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 )；激怒；刺激；愤怒的原因

参考例句：

• We cannot ignore such provocations. 对于这种挑衅，我们不能置之不理。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They must immediately cease all their provocations. 他们必须停止一切挑衅。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 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。

13 scuttle   

v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗

参考例句：

• There was a general scuttle for shelter when the rain began to fall heavily.下大雨了，人们都飞跑着寻找躲雨的地方。
• The scuttle was open,and the good daylight shone in.明朗的亮光从敞开的小窗中照了进来。

14 cohesive   

adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的

参考例句：

• She sealed the parcel with cohesive tape.她用粘胶带把包裹封起来。
• The author skillfully fuses these fragments into a cohesive whole.作者将这些片断巧妙地结合成一个连贯的整体。

15 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。