VOA标准英语2013--美国支持亚洲军队面对中国的增长

 

US Bolsters¹ Asian Militaries in Face of China's Growth 我们支持亚洲军队面对中国的增长

PENTAGON — U.S. Defense² Secretary Chuck Hagel is traveling in Southeast Asia in a bid to strengthen ties with the militaries of partners and allies in the face of China's growing influence in the region. Hagel has arrived in Brunei for a meeting of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN.

It is a visit meant to reassure³ partner nations that the United States stands behind them in their efforts to build their militaries.

At a stop in Indonesia, the U.S. defense secretary announced a $500 million deal for the sale of Apache helicopters to the Indonesian military. 

“We are signing today the letter of agreement to go forward and sell those helicopters," said Hagel.

High priority

It might seem odd that Hagel is visiting Asia at a time when U.S. ships are poised⁴ to launch an attack on Syria. The Obama administration effort to turn its military focus to the Pacific is a high priority, though, and analyst⁵ Patrick Cronin said attending the ASEAN meeting is a matter of credibility for the U.S. 

"For the United States not to show up at a meeting like this, not to take a trip that has long been planned, would send the completely wrong signal for the region," he said. "So it's very important, even while there are other global events and crises happening, that the secretary of defense has to maintain his schedule so that we can be a predictable partner and ally in Asia.

Hagel has announced Washington is boosting military aid to southeast Asia by 50 percent, in part to train and develop forces like these in the Philippines, Hagel's final stop on this visit.

Cronin calls it a wise investment at a time when the U.S. defense budget is tightening⁶.

"Dollar for dollar, a little bit of engagement, a little bit of assistance to our partners and allies in East Asia can go much further than, say, sinking money into one large platform that may not be as useful for engaging this region," he said.

Beijing influence

China is not on the itinerary⁷ this time, but Beijing's maritime⁸ disputes with the Philippines and other U.S. allies and partners are very much in the background of discussions. 

Hagel's trip follows a visit last week by China's defense minister to the Pentagon where both sides talked about increasing exchanges and managing what could become a difficult relationship.

“Our goal is to build trust between our militaries through cooperation," said Hagel. "The transparency that we've had is important to reducing the risk of miscalculation and avoiding unintended tensions or conflicts.

U.S. and Chinese forces have been increasing cooperation, including a joint⁹ exercise with the Chinese navy off the coast of Hawaii last year.

Washington has, for the first time, invited China to take part in large multinational¹⁰ exercises next year.

1 bolsters   

n.长枕( bolster的名词复数 )；垫子；衬垫；支持物v.支持( bolster的第三人称单数 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He used a couple of bolsters to elevate his head. 他用两个垫枕垫头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The double-row piles with both inclined and horizontal bolsters also analyzed in consideration of staged excavation. 本文亦分析了考虑开挖过程的安置斜撑与带支撑的双排桩支护结构。 来自互联网

2 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。

3 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

4 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

5 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。

6 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。

7 itinerary   

n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划

参考例句：

• The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。
• The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。

8 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。

9 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。

10 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。