安倍访美意味美日关系进入新阶段

安倍访美意味美日关系进入新阶段

WHITE HOUSE— Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan begins a visit to Washington next week that U.S. officials say signals a new phase in the decades-old trans-Pacific alliance. Talks between Abe and U.S. leaders will focus on trade and defense¹ in the face of China’s rising influence in the region.

In the 70 years since the U.S. made peace with Japan after World War II, the two have gone from bitter enemies to strong trading partners and close allies.

在二战后美国与日本重修于好的70年间，两国从宿敌变为强大的贸易伙伴和亲密盟友。

Threats from a rising China, and Beijing’s claims to islands that Japan considers its own, have made that alliance even closer.

来自中国崛起的威胁，以及北京对日本认为是本国的岛屿的主权声明，都让这一盟友关系更加紧密。

On an April visit to Tokyo, President Obama offered Japan much-welcomed reassurances² that the U.S. stands by its treaty commitments to defend Japan.

奥巴马总统4月份访问东京期间，他向日本保证美国会坚持其捍卫日本的承诺，这一做法得到日本的欢迎。

“Let me reiterate³ that our treaty commitment to Japan's security is absolute, and Article 5 [of the 1951 US-Japan Security Treaty] covers all territories under Japan's administration, including the Senkaku Islands," he said.

“让我再重申下，我们对日本安全的协议承诺是绝对的，1951年日美安全保障条约第五条覆盖日本管辖下的所有领土，其中包括尖阁列岛。”

To make the point, the U.S. is preparing a rare, lavish⁴ welcome that will include a White House ceremony, a joint⁵ news conference, and a state dinner. Abe will be the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

为了证明这一点，美国正准备一场罕见的隆重欢迎仪式，包括白宫举办的仪式、一场联合新闻发布会、以及一场国宴。安倍将是首位在美国国会的联席会议上发表讲话的日本首相。

“I think one of the things that the U.S. definitely wants to do is to send a strong signal not only to China but also to the rest of the region and to the Japanese people that we value the alliance," said Meredith Miller⁶, an analyst⁷ with the National Bureau of Asian Research.

国家亚洲研究局分析家梅雷迪思·米勒说，“我认为美国肯定想做的一件事，就是不仅向中国，也向亚洲其他地区和日本人民发出强有力的信号，即我们重视这一盟友关系。”

The rising threat from China combined with U.S. military downsizing, and lingering U.S. economic weakness, are feeding the need for reassurances among the Japanese.

中国崛起的威胁、以及美军裁员和美国经济的持续衰退，使得向日本人作保证成为进一步的需要。

The Obama administration has touted⁸ a shift of its focus to Asia that goes beyond sending more ships and troops to the region.

奥巴马政府一直在兜售其重点转向亚洲的计划，不仅仅是向该地区派遣更多舰船和军队。

Trade is an important component⁹ of that rebalance, and now the U.S. wants to show off the progress it is making toward a regional trade deal.

贸易是这种再平衡的重要部分，现在美国希望显示出其在达成地区贸易协议方面取得的进展。

“One high-profile topic on the agenda will be the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership¹⁰ negotiations¹¹, and the hope that by raising standards and leveling the playing field, we can secure an agreement that is clearly in the best interest of the United States and American businesses and American workers, but also in a way that fairly is beneficial to the Japanese economy, as well," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

白宫发言人乔希·厄内斯特，“我们议程中备受关注的话题将是跨太平洋伙伴关系谈判的现状，以及希望通过提升这一竞技场的标准并使之更加公平，我们能达成显然有最有利于美国、美国企业和美国工人的协议，但同时也会给日本经济带来好处。”

Japan has been moving to boost its self-defense forces, and it’s expected there will be an announcement here updating those guidelines for the first time in 18 years.

日本一直在努力增强其自卫力量，并希望将在白宫发表声明，对这些指导方针进行18年来第一次的更新升级。

It is all part of the process of updating a relationship to cope with a new reality and a new set of challenges in the region.

所有这些努力都是为了提升美日关系以应对该地区新的现实和新的系列挑战。

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 reassurances   

n.消除恐惧或疑虑( reassurance的名词复数 )；恢复信心；使人消除恐惧或疑虑的事物；使人恢复信心的事物

参考例句：

• We have had some reassurances from the council that the building will be saved. 理事会保证会保留那座建筑，这使我们得到了些许安慰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everybody's reassurances have encouraged me. 大家的勉励鼓舞了我。 来自辞典例句

3 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

4 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

5 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。

6 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 touted   

v.兜售( tout的过去式和过去分词 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• She's being touted as the next leader of the party. 她被吹捧为该党的下一任领导人。
• People said that he touted for his mother and sister. 据说，他给母亲和姐姐拉生意。 来自辞典例句

9 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

10 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。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。