9月27日発行『THE NIKKEI WEEKLY』(P.1)、
尖閣沖衝突事件についての記事。

＜時事関連英語、キーワード＞

row 　 けんか、紛争
host seat 　非常に困った立場、非常に苦しい立場
diplomatic turbulence 　 外交上の騒乱（外交上の乱気流）
sensitive　 微妙な、扱いにくい
be put in doubt 　 疑問が投げかけられる、疑問視される
Senkaku Islands 　 尖閣諸島
East China Sea　 東シナ海
ratchet up pressure 　 圧力を一段と強める
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao 　 温家宝・中国首相
do just that　 その通りにする（釈放する）
could have been done　　 ～することができたであろう
detain for questioning 　聴取のためこう留する
diplomatic row　　 外交紛争、外交騒動
cast a shadow over ～　　～に影を投げかける
thorny problem　　厄介な問題、複雑な問題
breakthrough　　打開策、（行き詰まり状態からの）進展
on the horizon　　差し迫って、兆しが見えて
adamant　　　強硬な、断固たる
neither side　　どちらの側も～しない
maritime issue　　海事問題
apparent reference to ～　　　～への明白な言及
Japan Coast Guard　　海上保安庁
ram　　　激突する
uninhabited islet　　無人島
claim　　　権利（領有権）を主張する
on suspicion of ～　　　～の容疑で
interfere with 　　～を妨害する
free　　　解放する
call off, or at least postpone　　中止するか、少なくとも延期する
counter　　反論する、反駁する
in accordance to ～ 　　～に従って
take up ～ 　　～を取りあげる
countermeasure　　　対抗措置
blame ～ for ～ 　　～について～の責任をとがめる
cross-border tension　　国境を越える緊張
onus 　　　責任
spur-of-the-moment 　　衝動的なこと、はずみでなされたこと
raise the stakes　　利害関係をまき起こす、緊張を高める
take a sudden turn　　突然の展開をみせる、急に曲がる
skipper　　船長
out of consideration for ～　　～を考慮して、～に免じて
lead prosecutor　　 次席検事
early hours　 　未明、朝早い時間
Fujian Province 福建省
discretion　　　判断、決定権


＜使える英語＞

■ put ～ in doubt 　　 ～を疑問視する
■ be about to (be / do ～ ) 　　今にも～しようとしている
■ be on the horizon　　 明らかになりつつある、差し迫っている
■ call off (a meeting / talks, etc)　　 （会合/会談等）を中止する
■ counter (that ～ / with ～ )　　　 （～と/～に）反論する
■ take up (the issue / the matter, etc)　　 （その争点/問題等）を取り上げる
■ take a (sudden / interesting, etc) turn　　 （突然の/興味深い）方向転換をする、急に曲がる
■ spur of the moment 　はずみでなされた、衝動的なこと


――　メール　――

To: Gregory Clark, CEO
Subject: Update
___________________________________________

Dear Mr. Clark:

I am sending you this email to update you on recent developments here at the office while you have been away.

First, our negotiations with Company A have taken an interesting turn. On Monday, they said they could offer no better price than the one they had originally quoted. I then decided to call their bluff by saying that while I understood their situation, we nevertheless would probably be calling off all future meetings with them. At this, they looked nervous and said they would take the issue up with their CEO and get back to me promptly. Well, the very next day, they countered with a much more attractive price.

Meanwhile, positive developments also seem to be on the horizon with Company B. As you know, they were not going to renew their contract with us and were about to sign with our rival, Company X. Well, apparently, their CEO had a meeting with some fortune-teller, and, on the spur of the moment, changed his mind. They're now going to renew with us AND double their orders!

On the not-so-positive side, the office coffee machine is broken again.
I tried to fix it, but I don't seem to have succeeded -- the coffee now
tastes a bit like tomato juice. However, though my repair skills have been put in doubt, I shall be making another attempt tomorrow.

Hope you're having a good trip and see you in a few days.

Jeff



call a person’s bluff 　　はったりと見て挑戦する、人の手を公開させる
bluff<動>　はったりでだます
<例>　My friend said he has 7 cars and 3 houses, but I think he's bluffing.

the very next day 　まさにその翌日

※架空の設定です。

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