VOA慢速英语:中美寻求更加紧密的军事合作但分歧仍存在分歧
From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.
American Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was inChina this week. His visit was an example of efforts by the two countries to expand military ties. The DefenseSecretary met with Chinese President Xi Jinping andvisited China’s only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. But Mr.Hagel’s trip to China was short on friendly exchanges. The two sides spoke of cooperation, but openlydisagreed about territorial disputes in East Asia.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (L) shakes hands with Chinese Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan in Beijing April 8, 2014. |
Secretary Hagel arrived in Beijing after a stop in Japan. He told reporters that China must reduce tensions withits neighbors and be more open about its militarystrength.
China and Japan are involved in a territorial dispute over islands in the EastChina Sea. The islands are called the Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.They are rich in natural resources and provide valuable waters for fishing.
Last year, China established an air defenseidentification zone over the disputed islands. Chinaclaimed the right to take military action against anyaircraft without approval to fly over the area. SecretaryHagel criticized the decision to create the air defensezone over the islands.
“Every nation has a right to establish air defense zones, but not a right to do it unilaterally, with no collaboration, no consultation. That adds to tensions,misunderstandings, and could eventually add to, andeventually get to, dangerous conflict.”
China’s Defense Minister strongly disagreed with the Defense Secretary.General Chang Wanquan noted that territorial issues are very important to hiscountry. He said China would not incite Japan to action, but is prepared toprotect its territory. In his words, “on this issue, we will make no compromise, no concession, no trading, not even a tiny bit of violation is allowed.”
This was the third time that Defense Minister Chang and Secretary Hagelhave met since they each took office.
This week, Secretary Hagel made a visit to China’s National DefenseUniversity. He spoke about the need for openness as a way to avoidmisunderstandings. One officer accused the United States of taking sides inAsia as a way to incite tensions and block the rise of China’s military. TheUnited States denies it wants to contain China.
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A group of disputed islands, Uotsuri island (top), Minamikojima (bottom) and Kitakojima, known as Senkaku in Japanand Diaoyu in China is seen in the East China Sea, in this photo taken by Kyodo News Service, September 2012. |
Jonathan Pollack is with the Brookings Institution, a Washington-basedresearch group. He says U.S. officials have taken a somewhat harder line inhow they deal with issues of importance to Asia.
Secretary Hagel ended his 10-day trip to Asia with a visit to China’s neighbor,Mongolia. He signed a new deal to provide more military training andassistance to Mongolia. The U.S. currently provides about $3 million in militarysales and training to the country.
Other nations have strengthened military ties with the United States. This hasled China to criticize the U.S. for seeking to contain its rise. But observers sayrelations between the sides have improved over the past year or so. The twomilitaries have held several joint exercises since last year.
And that’s In The News from VOA Learning English.
I’m Steve Ember.
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