VOA标准英语2013--Shortened Obama Asia Trip Highlights Economic Goals, Strategic Pivot

 

Shortened Obama Asia Trip Highlights Economic Goals, Strategic Pivot¹ 

WHITE HOUSE — President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali, Indonesia, and the East Asia summit in Brunei. But there are concerns he may cancel the trip to deal with the shutdown of the U.S. government. Regional political analysts² say the president's appearance at the gatherings³ is important.

Last year, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton represented the United States at APEC.

But attendance by a U.S. president is important, especially this year, says Murray Heibert of the Center for Strategic and International Studies

"There have been serious questions, beginning a year ago on [U.S budget] sequestration, that the U.S. couldn't get a budget done, can it maintain the security relationships, the joint⁴ exercises, those kinds of things . . .so there are real questions in Asia whether the full U.S. government is engaged on the Asia re-balance, or whether it is only certain parts of it," said Heibert.

APEC aims to further free trade and ensure sustainable growth.

The United States and 11 other APEC economies are working to conclude a new U.S.-led free trade group, the Trans-Pacific Partnership⁵.

Matthew Goodman, a former White House coordinator⁶ for APEC, speaks of a shift in thinking by China, which has viewed the Trans-Pacific Partnership as deliberately⁷ trying to exclude it.

"I personally think the reason for that shift is Japan, because Japan joined this thing is now a serious undertaking⁸ and it poses some real questions for Beijing's leadership in international trade and regional affairs as well," he said.

Regional security and maritime⁹ issues, including South China Sea disputes, are in the spotlight¹⁰ at the East Asia Summit in Brunei.

Michael Green, a former director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, says the U.S. strategic "pivot" to Asia is moving forward.  

But Asian nations have big concerns about budget battles in Washington and U.S economic stability.

"Most of these big Asian allies of ours, Japan, Korea, Australia, trade more now with China than with us,  but it is intermediate trade," Green said. "It goes to China then it goes to us, and it's part of a global production network that still hangs on the health of the U.S. economy.  So, they are all worried about this."

The White House says President Obama's attendance at APEC and the East Asia Summit is important both for U.S. security 

1 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。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

4 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

7 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

8 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

9 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

10 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。