VOA常速英语2018--美国称其在亚洲地位不可撼动

It is increasingly clear that no geographical¹ area is more important to the future of the United States than the Asia-Pacific. It is home to one-third of the world's population, produces one-third of global GDP, and boasts some of the largest and most dynamic economies in the world, said Acting² Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton in recent testimony³ before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

越来越明晰的一点是：亚太是对美国未来意义最重要的地区。这里的人口占全球总数的1/3，占全球GDP的1/3，这里有世界上最大、最有活力的经济体，负责东亚和太平洋地区事务的代理助理国务卿苏珊 桑顿(Susan Thornton)最近在参议院对外关系委员会上如是说道。

But there are very real security and economic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, including the menacing threat of North Korea, the rise of an authoritarian⁴ China, and the spread of terrorism and extremism. The threat from North Korea continues to increase, tensions and extremism are on the rise, she said. Backsliding on democracy, governance and corruption⁵, and human rights is also undermining prospects⁶ for stability and growth in some countries.

但亚太地区也存在诸多切实的安全挑战和经济挑战，包括朝鲜威胁、专制中国的崛起、恐怖主义和极端主义的传播。朝鲜带来的威胁依然在增加，紧张局势和极端主义也在不断滋生，桑顿如是说道。民主、治理、反腐败工作、保卫人权工作的倒退也破坏了一些国家稳定和增长的前景。

These problems will not be resolved without strong, determined⁷ leadership, and the Administration of President Donald Trump⁸ is determined and up to the task.

如果没有强大而又有决心的领导力，这些问题是不会得到解决的。而特朗普政府就决心承担起这项任务。

In response to Kim Jong Un's attempts to develop North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities⁹, the United States initiated¹⁰ a ‘maximum pressure campaign' of strong diplomatic actions and economic sanctions against North Korea. Many of our allies around the globe have followed suit, restricting or ending North Korean diplomatic activities, severing¹¹ all trade ties and imposing¹² or tightening¹³ economic sanctions on North Korea.

在回应金正恩研发朝鲜核能力和弹道导弹能力的企图时，美国提出了‘最大化压力’的举措，即对朝鲜采取强硬的外交行动和经济制裁。我们全球的很多盟友都加入了我们，限制甚至终止了朝鲜的外交活动，切断了与朝鲜的一切贸易关系，并对朝鲜施加或加紧了经济制裁。

We have also made clear to China our desire for a productive relationship, and that we must work to manage and resolve differences. But we will not tolerate any attempts to displace the United States in Asia, or to coerce¹⁴ or bully¹⁵ countries in the region.

我们也已明确向中国表示了我们希望达成富有成效的关系的愿望，也明确表示我们必须努力应对解决我们之间的分歧。但我们不会容忍任何取代美国在亚洲地位的企图，也不会容忍任何强迫或欺侮亚洲地区国家的企图。

Finally, we continue our work with APEC to promote high standards and fair trade, and to support ASEAN-centered regional architecture.

最后，我们将继续与亚太经合组织(APEC)合作，以促进高标准和公平贸易，并支持以东盟为中心的区域架构。

The administration, under President Trump's leadership, is working to expand and deepen partnerships¹⁶ throughout the region via our Indo-Pacific strategy, to ensure that countries have support to make their own decisions and don't feel pressured to take on obligations that undermine good governance or long-term growth, said Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton. The United States is a Pacific power and will remain committed to this region's success.

在特朗普总统的领导下，美国政府将努力通过印度-太平洋地区战略来扩张并加深与该地区伙伴的关系，将努力确保对一些国家的支持，让他们能够自己做决定，而不必因倍感压力而在承担起责任的同时破坏了自己的有效治理和长期发展，代理助理国务卿桑顿如是说道。美国也是太平洋地区的国家，并将始终致力于实现该地区的成功。

1 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

4 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

9 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

10 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

11 severing   

v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The death of a second parent is like severing an umbilical cord to our past. 父母当中第二个人去世，就象斩断了把我们同过去联在一起的纽带。 来自辞典例句
• The severing theory and severing method for brittle block are studied. 研究裂纹技术应用于分离脆性块体的分离理论和分离方法。 来自互联网

12 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

13 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

14 coerce   

v.强迫，压制

参考例句：

• You can't coerce her into obedience.你不能强制她服从。
• Do you think there is any way that we can coerce them otherwise?你认为我们有什么办法强迫他们不那样吗？

15 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

16 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句