VOA标准英语2012--Burma: US, EU Investment Will Not Weaken China Economic Ties

 

Burma: US, EU Investment Will Not Weaken China Economic Ties

Burma is changing and so is its relationship with the West.

Pro-democracy advocate Aung Sung Suu Kyi is now a member of parliament. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is an honored guest. And Western leaders say the political reforms warrant the gradual reopening of relations.

"Many of us have taken action to open up trade and investment with Burma for the first time in many years, and we have had discussions with the leadership there. Our hope is that this process will continue, and we're going to do everything that we can to encourage that process," said U.S. President Barack Obama at the recent G8 summit near Washington.

So what does the easing of European Union and U.S. sanctions against Burma mean for its longstanding trade ties with China?

"We have had a very good cooperation with China. So I think that this will not jeopardize¹ the future relations with China," he said.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States recognizes ties between Burma and China.

"So this is not about any other nation," said Clinton. "This is between us. This is rooted in the changes we have watched happen and our desire to support the continuation of those changes."

Doug Bandow, at Washington's Cato Institute, says both Burma and China are changing.

"They are seeing, I think, in Burma this kind of move to the West," said Bandow. "I think part of that is concern about this very tight embrace with Beijing. So I think China is learning that it is going to have to engage in diplomacy² too."

He believes Burma's reforms are based, in part, on not wanting to end up like North Korea, an impoverished³ pariah⁴ state dependent on China alone.

Just before sanctions were suspended, Burma stopped work on a $3 billion Chinese hydroelectric dam following protests by environmental activists⁵. But instead of frustrating⁶ Chinese investment, Brookings Institution fellow Lex Rieffel says it may help move the relationship forward.

"There are some parts of the policy community in China that were upset by the dam being built in the first place [and] are not unhappy that it has been stopped and believe that this very important long-term relationship between China and Myanmar will improve once this obstacle is removed," Rieffel explained.

Burmese officials say new investments help support political reforms. But U.S. officials could tighten⁷ sanctions again if those reforms do not continue. 

1 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

2 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

3 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 pariah   

n.被社会抛弃者

参考例句：

• Shortly Tom came upon the juvenile pariah of the village.不一会儿，汤姆碰上了村里的少年弃儿。
• His landlady had treated him like a dangerous criminal,a pariah.房东太太对待他就像对待危险的罪犯、对待社会弃儿一样。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。