VOA慢速英语--美国:东盟是亚太地区的核心

AS IT IS 2016-02-16 US: ASEAN Is the Heart of Asia Pacific 美国:东盟是亚太地区的核心

At a meeting of Southeast Asian nations in California, President Barack Obama is looking to solidify¹ America’s leadership role in the Asia Pacific region.

All 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are meeting with the U.S. at the historic Rancho Mirage² retreat in Sunnylands. Behind the beautiful backdrop, the leaders will take on difficult issues important to the region.

Obama hopes to continue his Asian pivot³ to place more American political and military power in the fast-growing area. The U.S. and China are competing for influence among Asian nations.

The talks will include closer relationships on people, trade and commerce, cooperation against violent extremism, and establishing rules and principles to guide nations on different issues.

South China Sea dispute

A main discussion point will be territorial⁴ disputes in the South China Sea and China’s increasing activities in the region.

White House officials said the U.S. will send “a very clear message” to ASEAN leaders that it opposes China’s “militarization” of the disputed territories, and any increase in tensions there.

The U.S. is not a claimant in the South China Sea disputes. But it will continue to press for freedom of navigation. The U.S. “interest in the South China Sea is the free flow of commerce,” said Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security advisor⁵.

The administration says ASEAN is “the heart” of the Asia Pacific, and the best way to build a structure for peaceful and legal pursuit of interests.

“The more that we can establish clear rules of the road for how issues are managed, for how disputes are resolved, the more stable and prosperous this region is going to stay going forward,” said Rhodes.

North Korea’s recent rocket testing is also expected to be discussed at the meeting. The U.S. and ASEAN leaders will discuss how China can help pressure Pyongyang to end its “provocative⁶” actions.

The U.S. and China disagree on North Korea, but the U.S. sees common interest in keeping the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free.

"We are exceptionally candid⁷ in confronting the many differences and tensions that exist between us,” said Daniel Kritenbrink, National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs.

He said our relationship with China is “stable” and “complex."

Daniel R. Russel is Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He said the ASEAN summit is “not about China,” but about creating an ASEAN committed to rules and fairness.

“It allows major countries like the United States and other powers to engage constructively⁸ as partners,” Russell said.

Obama will speak about human rights and democracy at the meeting. But administration officials said ASEAN countries have very different political models and human rights and democracy records.

American officials say that countries that show positive movement towards democracy, like Myanmar, will get U.S. support.

Words in This Story

solidify - v. make something stronger

retreat - n. a place that is quiet and private

pivot - n. the action of turning around

pursuit –n. the act of following or chasing someone or something

prosperous –adj. having success usually by making a lot of money

provocative – adj. causing discussion, thought, argument, etc.

candid –adj. honest

stable –adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change

commit –v. to say that someone will definitely do something to make someone obligated to do something

1 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

2 mirage   

n.海市蜃楼，幻景

参考例句：

• Perhaps we are all just chasing a mirage.也许我们都只是在追逐一个幻想。
• Western liberalism was always a mirage.西方自由主义永远是一座海市蜃楼。

3 pivot   

v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的

参考例句：

• She is the central pivot of creation and represents the feminine aspect in all things.她是创造的中心枢轴，表现出万物的女性面貌。
• If a spring is present,the hand wheel will pivot on the spring.如果有弹簧，手轮的枢轴会装在弹簧上。

4 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。

5 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

6 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

7 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

8 constructively   

ad.有益的，积极的

参考例句：

• Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom. 如此富有意义地利用业余时间来进行收藏，会使人怡然自得，无暇烦恼。
• The HKSAR will continue to participate constructively in these activities. 香港会继续积极参与这些活动。