The meeting was part of President Obama’s efforts to strengthen economic and security ties with Southeast Asia.

這場會議是歐巴馬總統加強東南亞經濟及安全關係的努力成果

The US’s interest in ASEAN has grown significantly in recent years as tensions rise over the highly disputed South China Sea

近年來，隨著南海的緊張情勢的加劇，美國對東南亞國協的興趣也日趨濃厚

So, what is ASEAN and why is it important for Southeast Asia?

所以到底什麼是東協呢？ 為什麼它在東南亞扮演著關鍵的角色呢？

Well, ASEAN is a political and economic alliance of 10 countries.

東南亞國協是由十個國家所組成的政治經濟聯盟

The group’s five original member states - Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand

這個組織最初的五個會員國: 印尼、馬來西亞、菲律賓、新加坡及泰國

founded ASEAN in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam war.

在越戰正酣時的1967年建立了東南雅國協

At the time, many Southeast Asian governments were at war with their respective communist-led guerilla groups,

在那時，許多的東南亞政府正分別與他們的共產黨游擊隊作戰

and leaders became increasingly concerned over the region’s political vulnerability.

政府領導者對區域政治安定性感到日益擔憂

So, they formed an alliance to not only secure the region against the threat of communism,

所以他們組成了一個聯盟，不只是為了確保區域安全不受共產主義的威脅

but to give Southeast Asia a cohesive voice on Cold War issues .

也讓東南亞國家對冷戰議題有個一致的聲音

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, ASEAN has shifted its focus to international trade,

自從蘇聯垮台後，東協便轉移重心到國際貿易

border security and collaboration with neighboring countries like China and South Korea.

邊境安全、與鄰近國家如中國、南韓的合作上

For instance, member state’s GDPs range anywhere from roughly $11 to roughly $888

舉例來說，東協會員國的GDP座落在110億到888億美元的區間內

billion dollars, but collectively their GDP is about $2.5 trillion dollars,

不過合計GDP則達到2.5兆美元

rivaling that of France and the United Kingdom.

與法國、英國不相上下

When it comes to military strength, each ASEAN member state is relatively powerless on its own.

提到軍事實力的話，每個東協會員國則相較弱勢

Although ASEAN has not fully integrated its military, they have already begun to collaborate on regional security threats,

雖然東南雅國協的軍事整合未臻完善，不過他們已經開始針對區域安全的威脅合作

like North Korea’s nuclear program and the territorial dispute over South China sea.

像是北韓的核武計畫以及南海的領土紛爭

For decades, China has tried to take ownership of much of this area, despite conflicting

過去十幾年來，儘管部分東協會員國對此表達抗議

claims from several member states

中國仍持續嘗試著對佔領這些地方

ASEAN has repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue, but has thus far failed.

東南亞國協持續的努力解決這些問題，不過目前仍然徒勞無功

The South China Sea conflict has jeopardized diplomatic relations between member states,

南海的衝突已經危害到了會員國間的關係

as several are heavily influenced by China.

因為許多的國家與中國的關係相當深厚

ASEAN’s lack of coherence on the issue has led to criticism of the group’s supposedly weak leadership and disjointed priorities.

東協在這議題上的不一致性招來推測東協的領導不利及利益順序不同的批評

Despite these differences of opinion over the the South China Sea, however,

儘管這些針對南海的意見分歧

ASEAN is striving to create a distinct “Southeast Asian identity” by 2020.

東協仍希望在2020年前達成東南亞人身份意識的願景

Meaning that citizens belonging to these member states would identify themselves not by their nationality,

意即會員國的公民不會由他們的國籍界定自己的身份

but by calling themselves ASEAN.

而是稱他們自己為東協的一份子

So how important is ASEAN? Well this powerful economic alliance, coupled with Southeast Asia’s growing consumer base,

所以東協到底有多重要呢？這個強大的經濟聯盟俠著東南亞持續增長的消費者基礎

has attracted interest from all over the world including the United States.

吸引了全世界的興趣，其中也包含美國。

When President Obama took office in 2009, the US made a strategic pivot to strengthen relations with Asia,

歐巴馬在2009年就任時，美國做了一個戰略性的改變，以加強與亞洲的關係

and even hosting ASEAN’s bi-annual summit on US soil. And as China continues to expand its military

甚至在美國國內舉辦了東協的雙年高峰會

and territorial claims, a united Southeast Asian front is more critical than it's ever been before.

隨著中國持續地擴張其軍事及領土主張，一個團結的東南亞陣線的重要性更勝以往

To do more videos like this, we relied on our sponsors.This episode is brought to you by Domain.com.

為了製作更多像這樣的節目，我們需要依靠我們的贊助商。這集影片是由Domain.com所贊助的

Thanks to recent changes in internet namespace, you’re not just limited to .com or .org, you can register tons of new domains

多虧了網域名稱的近期改變，你不再只侷限於.com或是.org了

under “.design”, “.club” and even “. ninja!”

你可以在.design、 .club甚至是.ninja底下註冊許多新的網名

And because you know we love our TestTube audience,

然後你也知道的，我們喜愛我們TestTube的觀眾

you can save 20% by using the coupon code “TUBE” at Domain.com’s checkout!

你在Domain.com結帳時只要輸入折價券序號「TUBE」就可以享有20%的折扣喔！

Make sure to check out more TestTube News videos, like this one about the fight to control the South China Sea.

觀賞更多的TestTube News影片，譬如這個有關於爭奪南海的影片

Thanks for watching TestTube News,

謝謝收看TestTube News

make sure to like and subscribe for new videos everyday.

幫我們的影片按個讚，並訂閱我們的頻道，觀賞每天更新的影片