VOA慢速英語：日本尋求擴大對東盟影響力

Japan Seeks to Expand Influence in Southeast Asia

日本尋求擴大對東盟影響力

As the United States pulls back from large free trade deals in the Asia-Pacific, Japan is competing with China for influence in the area.

隨著美國退出亞太地區(qū)的大型自由貿(mào)易協(xié)定，日本開始在該地區(qū)與中國爭奪影響力。

Japan is discussing deals to build a train line in the Philippines, a seaport in Cambodia, and a free trade agreement for countries around the Pacific Ocean.

日本正在談判要在菲律賓建設(shè)一條鐵路線，在柬埔寨興建一個港口以及同太平洋周邊國家簽訂一項自由貿(mào)易協(xié)議。

Trans-Pacific trade deal could still go forward

跨太平洋貿(mào)易協(xié)定仍可能繼續(xù)推進

U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, free trade deal in January. That move left 11 countries including Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore wondering how to move forward.

美國總統(tǒng)川普今年1月份退出了跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系協(xié)定。此舉使得包括日本、越南、馬來西亞和新加坡在內(nèi)的十一個國家不知所措。

Japan led the remaining countries to a revised deal at a meeting last week of the 21-nation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group in Vietnam. The new free trade deal is called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

上周在越南舉行的亞太經(jīng)合組織21國首腦會議上，日本牽頭剩余國家推進一項修改過的協(xié)議。這項新的自由貿(mào)易協(xié)定被稱之為“全面且先進的跨太平洋伙伴關(guān)系協(xié)定。”

Japan is also increasing its investment in major Southeast Asian countries. Japanese investment in major countries in the region has averaged $20 billion each year from 2011 to 2016. That is more than double the average from the five years before 2011.

日本還增加了對東南亞主要國家的投資。2011年到2016年，日本對該地區(qū)主要國家的年平均投資額達(dá)到200億美元，這比2011年前五年的年平均投資額翻了一倍多。

Trade routes and navigation important issues to Japan

貿(mào)易路線和航行成為日本的重要議題

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was among the leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, meeting in the Philippines this week.

日本首相安倍參加了本周在菲律賓舉行的東盟領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人會議。

The 10-member ASEAN group agreed to upgrade a nine-year-old trade agreement with Japan. A spokesman for Abe, Norio Murayama, said Japan hopes to secure trade routes through Southeast Asia to markets as far away as Africa.

東盟十國同意提升一項與日本達(dá)成已有九年之久的貿(mào)易協(xié)議。安倍發(fā)言人丸山則夫表示，日本希望確保從東南亞遠(yuǎn)至非洲的貿(mào)易路線。

Murayama said, "For Japan, the country surrounded by the sea, a maritime order is extremely important." He raised concerns, however, about the safety of shipping through the region.

丸山則夫表示：“對四周環(huán)海的日本而言，海上秩序極為重要”。然而他對通過該地區(qū)的航行安全表示擔(dān)憂。

Jeffrey Kingston is a writer and instructor at Temple University Japan. He said there are concerns that China may seek total control over navigation in the South China Sea.

杰弗里·金斯頓(Jeffrey Kingston)是日本坦普爾大學(xué)的一名講師和作家。他說，有擔(dān)心中國可能會尋求全面控制南中國海的航行。

"A lot of Japanese investment, a lot of factories' offshore operations (are) located there," he said.

他說：“很多日本的投資和海上作業(yè)都在那里。”

China and Japan seek influence with ASEAN countries

中日爭奪對東盟國家影響力

China and Japan still face difficult issues linked to Japan's activities before and during World War II. The two countries also have conflicting claims to some small islands in the East China Sea.

中國和日本仍然面臨著跟二戰(zhàn)前與二戰(zhàn)期間日本侵略行為相關(guān)的難題，日本還一直覬覦中國東海一些小島的主權(quán)。

Japanese direct aid around the world increased by 12.7 percent last year to $10.37 billion. The foreign ministry says on its website that Japan is seeking to support the goals of "human security" and "sustainable development." Japan wants to do this based on the needs of individual countries.

日本去年在全球的直接援助增長了12.7%，達(dá)到103.7億美元。日本外務(wù)省在其網(wǎng)站上表示，日本正在尋求支持“人類安全”和“可持續(xù)發(fā)展”的目標(biāo)。日本希望基于不同國家的需求做到這點。

China, however, has proposed a huge development program involving hundreds of billions of dollars. Known as the "One Belt, One Road" infrastructure campaign, the project aims to link Asia, Europe and even Africa.

然而中國提出了一項涉及數(shù)千億美元的龐大發(fā)展項目。該項目被稱之為“一帶一路”基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施運動，旨在連接亞洲、歐洲甚至是非洲。

Stephen Nagy is an associate political science professor at International Christian University in Tokyo.

斯蒂芬·納吉(Stephen Nagy)是東京國際基督教大學(xué)的一名政治學(xué)副教授。

He said Japan's efforts in Southeast Asia will become clearer because the U.S. is currently not as active in the region under President Trump.

他說，因為川普領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下的美國目前在該地區(qū)并不活躍，日本在東南亞的努力將會變得更加明顯。

Nagy said Japan has an important part to play in developing partnerships in the region. He added that Japan's efforts help balance China's expanding economic, diplomatic and security influence throughout Southeast Asia.

納吉表示，日本在發(fā)展該地區(qū)伙伴關(guān)系方面發(fā)揮著重要作用。他補充說，日本的努力有幫助平衡中國在東南亞地區(qū)不斷擴大的經(jīng)濟、外交和安全影響力。

I'm Mario Ritter.

馬里奧·里特報道。