VOA慢速英语2014 越南呼吁结束美国武器禁令

 

AS IT IS 2014-09-30 Vietnam Calling for End to US Arms Ban 越南呼吁结束美国武器禁令

It has been almost 20 years since the United States and Vietnam officially normalized relations. Last week, Vietnam’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister said it is time for U.S. officials to end what he called the ‘abnormal’ ban on arms to Vietnam. Pham Binh Minh also gave a warning to countries in East Asia and the Pacific: He said the area faces a high risk of military conflict because of territorial¹ disputes.

Pham Binh Minh was in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly meetings. He spoke² to the Asia Society last Wednesday.

Last year, the leaders of the United States and Vietnam decided³ to form a U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership⁴. Mr. Minh noted⁵ that, because of the agreement, ties between the two countries are normal. But that is not how he described the ban.  

“…and the ban on the lethal⁶ weapons to Vietnam is abnormal, so you (should) lift the ban, meaning that the relation(ship) is normal.”

Pham Binh Minh was asked if he believes that lifting the weapons ban might anger China. He said he does not think so.

“If we do not buy weapons from the United States, we still buy weapons from other countries. So why (should) China (be) bothered about that?”

Sources have been reported as saying that discussions among American officials about easing the arms restrictions⁷ are taking place in Washington. They say those discussions could result in a decision by the end of the year.

Bonnie Glaser attended Mr. Minh’s Asia Society speech. Ms. Glaser is an expert on China at the Centers for Strategic and International Studies. She believes an end to the arms ban is near.

“There is support from key members of Congress. There is a sense in the executive branch that this is a legacy⁸ of a past period in US-Vietnam relations, that it’s time to normalize that particular aspect of the US-Vietnam relationship, and from the remarks of the deputy prime minister (that) he, too, seemed to think that this would simply signify movement away from what has been an abnormal to a more normal relationship.”

Ms. Glaser says Mr. Minh’s comments about China suggest that Vietnam would be able to deal with criticism from its much larger neighbor.

Mr. Minh said that what he called “strategic distrust” among major powers is rising. He also said the security environment has worsened for several reasons. They include what he called “unchecked unilateralism,” military modernization⁹, an arms build-up and sea and territorial disputes.

“Never before have we seen a greater risk for miscalculation and incidents that might escalate¹⁰ into military conflicts as in the past few months.”

Mr. Minh said the Asia-Pacific area should be one of peace and development, a place where international law and local rules of order are respected.

He said the major powers should take the greatest responsibility for peace and security in the area. And he said his country can help by enacting¹¹ greater economic reforms and being more active within ASEAN -- the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“And Vietnam will be more responsible to ASEAN, and Vietnam will also join other ASEAN members to make sure that ASEAN will be at the center of the Asia-Pacific Security architecture.”

Vikram Nehru is with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He noted that, during his speech, Mr. Minh confirmed that Vietnam’s dispute with China over the South China Sea remains¹² a serious issue.

“What he wanted to make sure was that resolution of the South China Sea problem should be through the use of international law, should be through peaceful means and should be done in a way that was multilateral in nature.”

Professor Jonathan London is a Vietnam expert at City University of Hong Kong. He says Vietnam wants to peacefully end its territorial disputes by negotiating through ASEAN. He says that by doing so, Vietnam is not only seeking to control a complex situation, it is also demonstrating its refusal to be subject to foreign pressures.

1 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。

2 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。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 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。

5 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。

6 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

9 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

10 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

11 enacting   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Generally these statutes apply only to wastes from reactors outside the enacting state. 总之，这些法令只适宜用在对付那些来自外州的核废料。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• In addition, the complexion of enacting standards for live working is described. 另外，介绍了带电作业标准的制订情况。

12 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。