每日口說挑戰究竟什麼是中立國？哪些國家是中立的？ (Which Countries Are Neutral?)

[Transcript]

Hey folks, Ken here. Today we’re gonna talk about neutral countries. Our episode today serves as a warm-up for the CNN10 show. It’s been a while since the last time we covered international news, so I figured it’d be a good approach to learn about international relations. Now, when it comes to neutral countries, most of us will definitely mention Switzerland, as that’s what the country is renowned for. However, are there any other neutral countries in the world? And what exactly does a neutral country mean by definition?

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and, more specifically, cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country. A belligerent means countries actively engaged in battles and warfares. There are also non-belligerent countries, who take part in a war through support, but do not actually fight. Now, most countries only declare neutrality when war takes place among other countries. But, some countries, notably Switzerland and Ireland, are considered permanent neutral countries, which means they are forever neutral. Well, how many neutral countries are there? Technically, only Finland, Malta, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkmenistan, and the Vatican City are considered neutral. Nevertheless, a number of these countries mentioned that are within the EU are unable to claim neutrality due to the EU's mutual defense policy, which means they have to fight as a team when enemies attack. Thus, Austria, Finland, Malta, and Sweden are no longer expressly neutral as EU members. In other words, they’re not 100% neutral.

Although neutrality was originally an important aspect of diplomacy, there hasn’t been a far reaching conflict between superpowers since the Cold War, so there is little threat of invasion for most countries. With fighting limited to individual countries, it looks like the idea of neutrality can take a break for now. As you know, where there’s oil, I mean conflicts, the U.S. Government will undoubtedly come to the rescue. Or, they’ll run away, I mean, evacuate.

And now, here’s our sentence of the day:

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.

[Vocabulary words]

1. declare
to announce something officially

Ex: America declared war on Japan in 1941.
美國在1941對日本宣戰。

2. oppose
to disagree with or fight against

Ex: Most of the local residents opposed the closing of the school.
當地大多數居民反對關閉這所學校。

3. belligerent
wishing to fight and argue, or a country that is currently at war

Ex: The belligerent countries are having difficulties funding the war.
交戰國均缺乏戰爭資金。


And there you have it, that’s all we have time for today.
It’s really hard for me to imagine what Afghanistan is going through right now.
Is it right to blame everything on America?
Well.. I don’t think I’m qualified to make any judgments.
But I do know that as an island nation.
We have to stick together for this ship to sail and not sink.
Whether it’s the pandemic or international status.
Unity is the key to a better, rosier future.

This is Ken Miao and I’ll see you guys again next week.

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.

Generally(/ˈdʒen.ə r.əl.i/總體上) it means that a country has declared(/dɪˈkler/聲明v.) their non-participation(/pɑːrˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/參與n.) during a war, and more specifically(/spəˈsɪf.ɪ.kəl.i/明確地) cannot be *counted on(期望) to oppose(/əˈpoʊz/反抗v.) a belligerent(/bəˈlɪdʒ.ɚ.ənt/交戰的) country.
總體而言，它（中立狀態）指的是一個聲明在戰爭時期不參戰的國家，更具體地來說，中立國不會對抗交戰國。

◆ belligerent /bəˈlɪdʒ.ɚ.ənt/ adj. 好戰的；好鬥的；挑釁的 aggressive and unfriendly
= hostile /ˈhɑːstl/,  /ˈhɑːstaɪl/
a belligerent attitude
He is always very belligerent towards me.
speak in a belligerent tone 用好鬥的口吻說話

交戰中的；交戰國的 (of a country) fighting a war
the belligerent countries/states/nations

n.[C] 交戰國；參加鬥毆的人（或集團）a country or group that is fighting a war:
belligerents in World War II 第二次世界大戰的諸交戰國

◆ generally /ˈdʒen.ə r.əl.i/ adv. 大體上，總體上 without discussing the details of something:
Let's talk just about investment generally.
Your health is generally good, but you do have a few minor problems. 大體上，你身體狀況不錯，但有些小毛病。

通常，一般地，大多數情況下 in most cases = as a rule:
I generally get up at six.
The baby generally wakes up three times during the night. 通常這個嬰兒會在夜間醒三次。

普遍地，廣泛地 by or to most people:
The initiative(/ɪˈnɪʃ.ə.t̬ɪv/新措施) was generally considered a success.
It was generally believed at the time that both men were guilty. 當時普遍認為這兩名男子都有罪。

◆ declare /dɪˈkler/ vt. 宣佈；公佈；宣告；聲明[+（that）] to say something officially or publicly:
The government has declared a state of emergency.
The new Congress declared a state of war with Germany. 新的國會向德國宣戰了。

宣稱；斷言[+（that）] to state something clearly and definitely:
The accused man declared himself innocent. 被告聲稱他是無罪的。
She declared that she didn't want to see him again. 她宣稱再也不願見他了。

申報收入 to tell the tax authorities how much money you have earned:
All income must be declared.
I have nothing to declare. 我沒什麼要申報的。

申報應納稅的貨物價值 to tell customs(海關) officers (= at the border of a country) that you are carrying goods on which you should pay tax:
Do you have anything to declare?

發表意見，表明態度，宣布自己身分 to say clearly and openly who you are or what you intend to do:
*declare yourself :
They openly declare themselves as atheists(/ˈeɪ.θi.ɪst/無神論者). 他們公開宣布自己是無神論者。
He was the first gay player in a professional sports team to declare himself openly.

【牌】宣布（某牌）為王牌

(vi.) 公開支持（反對等）… ; 聲明，表示[（+for/against）]
She declared for the new airport plan.
她公開支持修建新機場的計劃。
We declared for their proposal. 我們聲明贊成他們的建議。

（板球比賽中，一方因已達足夠分數獲勝而在一局未結束前的）宣佈停止擊球，宣佈結束賽局(in cricket) to decide to end your innings(/ˈɪn.ɪŋz/回合) (= the period during which your team is batting) before all your players have batted:
Pakistan declared at 350 for 7. 巴基斯坦隊在第七局獲得350分後宣佈結束賽局。

◆ participation /pɑːrˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn/ n. 關係，參與，參加，加入；合作；分享[（+in）] the act of taking part in an activity or event:
A back injury prevented active participation in any sports for a while.
They wanted more direct participation in the solution of steel production problems. 他們要求更多的直接參與解決鋼鐵生產的問題。

◆ during UK /ˈdʒʊə.rɪŋ/ US /ˈdʊr.ɪŋ/ prep. 在……的整個期間 all through a period of time:
Don't speak during the meal. 吃飯時別說話。

在……期間的某一時候 at some point in a period of time:
They met and fell in love with each other during the Second World War. 他們在第二次世界大戰期間相遇並相愛。

◆ specifically /spəˈsɪf.ɪ.kəl.i/ adv. 特意，專門地connected with or intended for one particular thing only:
liquid vitamins specifically designed for children
These jeans are designed specifically for women. 這些牛仔褲是專爲女性設計的。

明確地；確切地；具體地 in a detailed and exact way:
She had specifically asked him to keep her updated on the investigation.
I specifically asked you not to be late. 我明確地告訴過你不要遲到。

used when you want to add more detailed and exact information:
The newspaper, or more specifically, the editor, was taken to court

◆ count on : (phr.) 依靠, 依賴, 信賴; 指望
You can always count on Michael in a crisis. 在危急關頭你總能依靠邁克爾。
Don't count on a salary increase this year. 別指望今年會加薪。

◆ oppose /əˈpoʊz/ vt. 反對；反抗；妨礙[+n/v-ing] to disagree strongly with somebody’s plan, policy, etc. and try to change it or prevent it from succeeding:
This party would bitterly oppose the re-introduction of the death penalty.
The proposed new airport will be strongly opposed by the local residents. 提議中的新機場會招受當地區民強烈反對。
I am opposed to going shopping with others. 我反對與他人一起外出購物。

使相對；使對抗[（+to/against）] to compete with somebody in a contest:
He intends to oppose the prime minister in the leadership election.
They were bitterly opposed to the scheme. 他們強烈反對這個計畫。
Our members are definitely opposed to making concessions(/kənˈseʃ.ən/妥協n.) on the safety question. 我們的成員絕對反對在安全問題上讓步。

(vi.) 反對

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.

belligerent [bəˈlɪdʒərənt] (adj.) 好戰的；交戰的

☺Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.
籠統得說，「中立」是表示這個國家宣示不參與戰爭，而說得更具體一點的話，就是中立國不會對交戰國採取任何敵對行動。
【心得】戰爭最無辜的受害者永遠是老百姓。如果改成運動大會，會不會比較勵志。
■declare [dɪˋklɛr] (vt.)宣布、宣告；聲明][+(that)]；宣稱；斷言[+(that)]；申報(納稅品等)；{牌局}宣布(某牌)為王牌
(vi.)聲明、表示[(+for/against)]；(板球比賽中,一方因已達足夠分數獲勝而在一局未結束前的)宣佈停止擊球、宣佈結束賽局
■oppose [ə'poz] (vt.) 反對、反抗、抵制、妨礙[+n./v-ing]；使相對、使對抗[(+to/against)]
■belligerent [bəˈlɪdʒərənt] (adj.) 好戰的；好鬥的；交戰中的；交戰國的
(n.C) 交戰國；參加鬥毆的人(或集團)

Can't imagine living in a belligerent country like Afghanistan!

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.

Generally it meants that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.
整體上，(中立表示國家)是指在戰爭期間聲明不參戰的國家，更準確地說，中立國部會對抗交戰國。

Generally it means that a country has declared their non-participation during a war, and more specifically cannot be counted on to oppose a belligerent country.
中立表示國家在戰爭中不參與任何一方，更準確來說，中立國對交戰任何一方都不採取敵對行動。