VOA标准英语2012--Philippines, China Seek Friendly Ties, Despite Tensions

Philippines, China Seek Friendly Ties, Despite Tensions

Avoiding confrontation¹

The Philippines recently pulled back its navy from the disputed Scarborough Shoals where it had been in a standoff with Chinese vessels².

Instead, the civilian-run Coast Guard is now in charge of security. Coast Guard Vice³ Admiral Edmund Tan says the Philippines is trying to avoid armed confrontation.

"We are armed, but we are not showing it," said Tan. "In fact, we have gun mounts. We remove it from the mounts. Because we are civilians⁴, actually. That's why we are there.”

The Philippines also wants to modernize⁵ its outdated⁶ defenses to better protect its territory. 

USA's role

So far, that has mainly meant relying on refurbished U.S. Coast Guard ships. But authorities welcome plans to shift the majority of U.S. naval⁸ forces to the Pacific by 2020 - a move that some in China see as trying to contain Beijing.

"The Asia-Pacific is the region where Chinese and U.S. interests most overlap⁹, and we welcome the United States to play a constructive¹⁰ role," said Foreign Ministry¹¹ spokesman Liu Weimin, "we also hope that the United States will respect the interests and concerns of all sides in the Asia-Pacific, including China.”

James Clad, with the Center for Naval Analysis in Washington, says U.S. forces are focused on ensuring freedom of navigation, which is critical for China’s trade.

“So if there are problems in the South China Sea created by the Chinese that would have a boomerang effect on them because it would raise insurance premiums¹² on all these ships that come and carry their trade and it would be rapidly, vastly more expensive to trade with China,” said Clad.

Navy visits

The Philippines’ Subic Bay for nearly 50 years was the largest Pacific base for the U.S. Navy.

Philippine opposition¹³ led to its closure in 1992, but U.S. ships still make port calls, including a nuclear-powered submarine that docked during Manila’s off-shore standoff with China.

Subic Bay Chairman Roberto Garcia says the visits are an important symbol.

“Well, for the Filipinos I think it gives them a sense of reassurance," said Garcia. "I mean, realistically speaking, we are in no position to oppose China. So, the presence of the U.S. Naval forces, air forces and our mutual¹⁴ defense⁷ treaty is, I think, a source of comfort to the Filipinos.”

The Philippines and the United States have agreed to increase U.S. Navy visits to Subic, now a successful special economic zone. 

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 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。

4 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。

5 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

6 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

7 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。

8 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。

9 overlap   

v.重叠，与…交叠；n.重叠

参考例句：

• The overlap between the jacket and the trousers is not good.夹克和裤子重叠的部分不好看。
• Tiles overlap each other.屋瓦相互叠盖。

10 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。

11 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。

12 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

14 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。