AFP: Taiwan to cut military spending amid warming China ties: report

這是一篇來自AFP的報導,有關台灣軍購與外交預算大幅刪減的新聞。

Taiwan plans to scale back its military spending in 2009 amid warming ties with rival China, it was reported Saturday.

找了半天似乎都沒有字典有載明scale back這個phrase,但是當scale為動詞時,其解釋是這樣的:

size or measure according to a scale

這似乎是最符合原文的解釋了.所以scale back大概和中文的"向下調整"有異曲同功之妙吧!

It will account for 17.2 percent of next year's government budget, the report said, but the move has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers.

根據Encarta的解釋account for有以下3個解釋

1. explain something: to provide an explanation for something
And how do you account for his behavior?

2. be responsible for something: to be responsible for something or be an important factor in something
Export sales account for at least half of our total business.

3. kill or destroy somebody or something: to be responsible for killing, destroying, or neutralizing somebody or something

當然在這裏第2個解釋才符合原文嘍!

自己造句:光是批改作業就用掉了至少30%的上班時間.

Grading papers account for at least 30% of office hours.

文中還有幾個與現今外交策略有關的用語

1. cement ties with existing diplomatic allies鞏固友邦 ...我看再強的水泥也無法鞏固這些只向錢看的"友"邦吧?

2. in line with Ma's call for ...呼應馬先生的外交休兵政策

The foreign ministry said the budget cut was in line with Ma's call for an end to the decades-old competition for diplomatic recognition between Taipei and Beijing.

Right, and Beijin government's is repeating deny to Taiwan's bid for any international body is in line with Mr. Ma's friendly approach? Sounds promising, Mr. Ma...