VOA慢速英语2015 美国考虑在中国南海采取行动

US Considering Action in South China Sea 美国考虑在中国南海采取行动

United States officials say the Defense¹ Department is considering sending military ships and aircraft to test Chinese claims in the South China Sea. Officials say the U.S. deployment² would forcefully demonstrate the right of shipping³ to move freely through the waterway. The move would be a direct challenge to China and its efforts to manufacture islands in the disputed waters.

“We claim the right of innocent passage in such areas and we exercise that right regularly, both in the South China Sea and globally.”

Those are the words of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, David Shear⁴. He told a Senate hearing that, “We are going to continue exercising that right, both on the surface of the waters and in the air.”

China's Foreign Ministry⁵ said this week it was "extremely concerned" about the reported U.S. plan. The Foreign Ministry said it had asked U.S. officials to explain the comments.

A U.S. Defense Department spokesman says the “key point” is that the waterways and air above the Spratley Islands are international. Colonel Steve Warren adds that the U.S. Navy “routinely” inspects the area. In his words, “International law does not recognize man-made islands as an extension of the mainland, and in this case, nor do we.”

Satellite images have documented China’s development of four coral reefs since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012. The work is taking place in waters where China and its neighbors have competing territorial⁶ claims. The development has included structures from shipping piers⁷ to landing areas for helicopters. U.S. State Department officials have repeatedly asked China to stop the work.

Last week, the Reuters news service reported evidence of an expansion of land area at two Vietnamese-controlled reefs. Reuters said the American-based Center for Strategic and International Studies provided satellite pictures to support the claim.

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel prepared a written statement for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He wrote that a U.S. presence is needed in the South China Sea to ensure everyone with an interest in the area follows international law. In his words, “No matter how much sand you pile on a reef...you can’t manufacture sovereignty.”

The South China Sea is one of the busiest areas for shipping in the world. U.S. interests are directly affected⁸ if China were to enforce control over the area.

Mr. Russel told lawmakers that the United States must use, in his words, “all instruments of national power” to push back on what he called “problematic behavior.”

David Shear told U.S. lawmakers that, at the current rate, Chinese crews will complete work on an airfield⁹ on one of the reefs in 2017 or 2018. Some lawmakers expressed concern that what China is building could be used to enforce control of the sea. They said U.S. efforts to stop the work might be too little, too late.

Mr. Shear added that the United States will continue to have a stronger presence in the area through the deployment of military aircraft. He also said the military plans to send four new battle ships to Singapore by 2020, and an additional submarine to Guam.

A U.S. official says Defense Secretary Ashton Carter wants to explore other ideas. They include sending U.S. aircraft and ships within 22 kilometers of the reefs that China has been developing. “The Wall Street Journal” newspaper and Reuters reported the comments.

Words in This Story

challenge – n. a difficult problem or test; an invitation to compete

regularly – adj. very often

globally – adj. related to the world; internationally

key – adj. important or major

coral reefs – n. hard substances formed in the sea by the remains¹⁰ of small organisms

sovereignty – adj. self-rule; the right to govern oneself; self-governance

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

4 shear   

n.修剪，剪下的东西，羊的一岁；vt.剪掉，割，剥夺；vi.修剪，切割，剥夺，穿越

参考例句：

• Every spring they shear off the sheep's wool and sell it.每年春天他们都要剪下羊毛去卖。
• In the Hebrides they shear their sheep later than anywhere else.在赫伯里兹，剪羊毛的时间比其他任何地方都要晚。

5 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。

6 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。

7 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。