时代周刊 美国“浮城”对越南进行历史性访问(1)

America’s floating city in the South China Sea

位于中国南海的美国“浮城”对越南进行历史性访问

IT’S OH SIX HUNDRED HOURS WHEN A VOICE crackles through the loudspeaker

卡尔·文森号正前往越南进行历史性访问，

and into the cabins of the roughly 5,300 sailors, civilians¹ and pilots who live aboard the U.S.S.Carl Vinson, who is on a historic vist to Vietnam,

早上六点，喇叭里传来通知，对住在文森号上的近5300名海员、乘客及飞行员来说，

and another day begins on what they call their "floating city.".

“浮城”上新的一天又开始了。

By day’s end, more than 100 sorties will have been launched, flying out over the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

当天结束之前，文森号将会出动100多架飞机，飞往颇有争议的中国南海的上空。

One of America’s longest-serving Nimitz class aircraft carriers, the Vinson dropped anchor on March 5 in waters near Da Nang, Vietnam,

美国服役时间最长的尼米兹级航母之一文森号于3月5日停靠在了越南岘港附近，

midway through a deployment² that has already sent its formation of ships to Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines.

尽管文森号此次已经将舰艇编队部署到了夏威夷，关岛和菲律宾，但到此为止，文森号此次的任务才算执行了一半。

The mission marks a strengthening of regional ties, especially with former American foe³ Vietnam;

这次任务代表地区关系，尤其是美国与其前对手越南的关系，得到了增进；

it’s the first time a U.S. carrier has visited the country since the war ended more than 40 years ago.

这也是越战结束40多年来美国航母首次访问越南。

"Truly, it’s a huge deal," says Vice⁴ Admiral Phillip Sawyer, commander of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, in Vietnam for the visit.

针对此次访问，身在越南的美国海军第7舰队司令菲利普·索耶中将说到，“这次确实是一笔巨大的交易。”

Consul⁵ General Mary Tarnowka, based in Ho Chi Minh City, says the U.S. "could not be more optimistic about our shared future together."

美国驻胡志明市的总领事玛丽·塔诺卡表示，美国“对美越两国的未来充满信心。”

China may not share the enthusiasm.

然而，中国对此事的热情可能就不那么高涨了。

Beijing considers most of the South China Sea its sovereign territory and has militarized several small islands and reefs in the waterway.

北京方面认为中国对南海大部分地区都拥有领土主权，并已经在该航道的几个小岛和珊瑚礁上设立了军事基地。

The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all lay claim to parts of the waters, through which nearly a third of global trade passes each year.

每年，全球有三分之一的贸易商船要从此处经过，而菲律宾、越南、台湾、马来西亚和文莱也都声称自己对该海域的部分地区拥有主权。

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 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。

3 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

5 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。