1. The relationship is symbiotic: China is reaping political benefit from its growing trade ties in the region.(symbiotic: 共生的)

2. Beijing hopes its prodigious trade and aid will convince Southeast Asian nations of the virtues of tying their futures to China. (prodigious: Impressively great in size, force, or extent; enormous:巨大的，庞大的：尺寸、力量或程度异常巨大的；巨大的：a prodigious storm.暴风骤雨)

3. Beijing is embroiled in several territorial disputes in those waters. (embroil: To involve in argument, contention, or hostile actions:使卷入：使卷入争论、斗争或敌对行动)

4. For China's acquisitive companies, however, the region's raw-material wealth is a potential bonanza. (bonanza: A rich mine, vein, or pocket of ore.富矿脉：富矿坑、脉、囊A source of great wealth or prosperity.富源：巨大的财富和昌盛之源)

5. Li dissects Southeast Asia with the efficiency of a latter-day colonialist. (dissect: To examine, analyze, or criticize in minute detail:详细分析，仔细剖析：仔细检查、分析或详细评论)

6. Chinese firms, many of which are state-owned and don't need to field tough questions on ethics from their boards or shareholders. (field: To give an unrehearsed response to:即席回复：作出未经排演过的反应)

7. Though much of the money may fly under the radar, China is learning just how much appreciation high-profile investments can earn from locals. (fly under the radar: can not be detected)

8. On Taiwan, at least, Beijing appears more than ready to flex its muscle. (flex one’s muscles: 显示力量；展示能力)

9. We don’t know which of them will be in charge of this department, so we’d better hedge our bets and be nice to both of them. (hedge one’s bets: 防止遭受损失/失败)

10. Politicians in Washington are getting nervous because of two pernicious problems facing the U.S. economy. (pernicious: Causing great harm; destructive:恶毒的，毁灭性的：引起巨大伤害的；毁灭性的)

11. As a result, there is a palpable discontent in the U.S. work force that politicians do not take lightly. (palpable: Easily perceived; obvious:明白的：很容易察觉的；明显的)

12. In political circles, this is ironclad evidence of cause and effect. (ironclad: Rigid; fixed:不能变的：刻板的；固定不变的)

13. America's gaping trade deficit didn't appear out of thin air.( gaping: Deep and wide open:张开的：大而深地张开的; out of thin air: 无中生有的；凭空的)