VOA慢速英語:中美尋求更加緊密的軍事合作但分歧仍存在分歧

[00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. [00:11.27]American Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel [00:15.22]was in China this week. [00:17.79]His visit was an example of efforts [00:20.86]by the two countries to expand military ties. [00:25.09]The Defense Secretary met with Chinese President Xi Jinping [00:30.22]and visited China’s only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. [00:35.55]But Mr.Hagel’s trip to China [00:38.64]was short on friendly exchanges. [00:41.35]The two sides spoke of cooperation, [00:44.62]but openly disagreed [00:47.00]about territorial disputes in East Asia. [00:50.87]Secretary Hagel arrived in Beijing after a stop in Japan. [00:55.87]He told reporters that China must reduce tensions [01:00.22]with its neighbors [01:02.24]and be more open about its military strength. [01:06.32]China and Japan are involved in a territorial dispute over islands in the East China Sea. [01:15.00]The islands are called the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. [01:22.05]They are rich in natural resources and provide valuable waters for fishing. [01:28.75]Last year, China established an air defense identification zone over the disputed islands. [01:37.70]China claimed the right to take military action [01:41.64]against any aircraft without approval to fly over the area. [01:47.56]Secretary Hagel criticized the decision to create the air defense zone over the islands. [01:55.37]“Every nation has a right to establish air defense zones, [02:01.90]but not a right to do it unilaterally, with no collaboration, no consultation. [02:09.75]That adds to tensions, misunderstandings, and could eventually add to, [02:17.03]and eventually get to, dangerous conflict.” [02:20.23]China’s Defense Minister strongly disagreed with the Defense Secretary. [02:24.65]General Chang Wan quan noted that territorial issues are very important to his country. [02:32.80]He said China would not incite Japan to action, but is prepared to protect its territory. [02:41.97]In his words, “on this issue, we will make no compromise, no concession, [02:49.03]no trading, not even a tiny bit of violation is allowed.” [02:55.23]This was the third time that Defense Minister Chang [03:00.71]and Secretary Hagel have met since they each took office. [03:04.51]This week, Secretary Hagel made a visit to China’s National Defense University. [03:11.13]He spoke about the need for openness as a way to avoid misunderstandings. [03:17.56]One officer accused the United States of taking sides in Asia as a way to [03:25.03]incite tensions and block the rise of China’s military. [03:30.86]The United States denies it wants to contain China. [03:35.46]Jonathan Pollack is with the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based research group. [03:43.49]He says U.S.officials have taken [03:49.44]a somewhat harder line [03:53.69]in how they deal with issues of importance to Asia. [03:54.59]Secretary Hagel ended his 10-day trip [03:58.18]to Asia with a visit to China’s neighbor, Mongolia. [04:01.48]He signed a new deal to provide [04:04.93]more military training and assistance to Mongolia. [04:07.83]The U.S.currently provides [04:10.91]about $3 million in military sales [04:13.95]and training to the country. [04:16.83]Other nations have strengthened military ties [04:19.71]with the United States. [04:21.99]This has led China to criticize the U.S. [04:24.79]for seeking to contain its rise. [04:28.65]But observers say relations between the sides [04:33.59]have improved over the past year or so. [04:37.88]The two militaries have held several joint exercises since last year. [04:44.34]And that’s In The News from VOA Learning English. [04:50.07]I’m Steve Ember.

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