VOA标准英语2014--中国加入美国海军演习 地区紧张局势上升

 

China to Join Naval¹ Exercise as Regional Tensions Rise 中国加入美国海军演习 地区紧张局势上升

BEIJING — Later this month, China will for the first time join the massive U.S.-led Rim² of the Pacific international maritime³ exercise, known as RIMPAC. Beijing's participation⁴ comes as tensions over maritime territorial⁵ disputes are growing between China and its Asian neighbors.

In recent weeks, Chinese and Vietnamese ships have repeatedly seen clashes like this one in disputed waters in the South China Sea. In the sky, planes from Japan and China have had near brushes, with each blaming the other.

Anti-China protests are spreading. Residents in the Philippines recently took to the streets. Protestor Marimi Dela Fuente was with them. "China is infringing⁶ upon our sovereignty. That is why I am here to rally our citizens against China's abuses to the world, and our country and to Southeast Asia," Fuente said.

And it is not just China's neighbors that are concerned. U.S. Secretary of Defense⁷ Chuck Hagel recently accused China of taking destabilizing unilateral actions to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

In the past, Beijing may have shied away in the face of such mounting criticism. But its decision to participate in RIMPAC, shows a willingness to be more transparent⁸ and highlights the growing maturity⁹ of military ties with Washington, said Peking University political scientist Wang Dong.

"Certainly there is a big substantive¹⁰ perception gap between China and the United States and its allies, and it is very important to narrow those perception gaps and I think the best way to do that is through communications and exchanges," said Dong.

The United States has long been a leader in the Pacific, but with growing budget constraints¹¹ at home and China's rapid rise, the two are adapting to a new situation and growing pains are to be expected, says Lin Chong-Pin, a former deputy defense minister in Taiwan. He spoke¹² to VOA via Skype. "Both are looking for a new relative position. And during this period of testing and adjustment there are pains and that is what we are seeing," he explained.

But Beijing's toughness has limits, Lin argued. He said part of the reason why China is raising tensions with its neighbors is because China's President Xi Jinping cannot appear weak to the outside world. "In order to go forward on reform he needs protection, because these reforms will affect the vested interests of a lot of powerful people in the government and outside the government," Lin noted¹³. "Therefore, he cannot afford to appear weak to the domestic audience.

China has sent sent four ships to the month long drills -- a missile destroyer, missile frigate¹⁴, a supply ship, and its hospital ship the Peace Ark. During the drills, more than 1,000 Chinese sailors and officers will rub shoulders with their counterparts from more than 20 other countries.

1 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。

2 rim   

n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界

参考例句：

• The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
• She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

3 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。

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 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。

6 infringing   

v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等）

参考例句：

• The material can be copied without infringing copyright. 这份材料可以复制，不会侵犯版权。
• The media is accused of infringing on people's privacy. 人们指责媒体侵犯了大家的隐私。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

9 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。

10 substantive   

adj.表示实在的；本质的、实质性的；独立的；n.实词，实名词；独立存在的实体

参考例句：

• They plan to meet again in Rome very soon to begin substantive negotiations.他们计划不久在罗马再次会晤以开始实质性的谈判。
• A president needs substantive advice,but he also requires emotional succor. 一个总统需要实质性的建议，但也需要感情上的支持。

11 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 frigate   

n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰

参考例句：

• An enemy frigate bore down on the sloop.一艘敌驱逐舰向这只护航舰逼过来。
• I declare we could fight frigate.我敢说我们简直可以和一艘战舰交战。