澳大利亞阻止中國競標電力資產引起激烈爭論

Australia’s move to block Chinese firms bidding for power asset sparks fierce debate
澳大利亞阻止中國公司競標電力資產引起激烈爭論

Australia’s decision to block a A$10 billion (S$10.3 billion) lease of an electricity grid to Chinese and Hong Kong bidders due to security concerns has prompted fierce debate over whether critical infrastructure should be controlled by foreigners, especially if the deal involves China.
澳大利亞基於安全問題決定阻止由中國和香港的買家租賃其金額達100億澳元的電網租賃方案，這引發了激烈的爭論，爭論在於是否應該由外國人控制其關鍵的基礎設施，尤其是交易涉及到中國。

The decision, announced last Thursday by the federal government, prevented China’s state-owned State Grid Corp and Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka Shing, from bidding for a 50.4 per cent stake in Ausgrid, the main electricity network in the nation’s largest state of New South Wales.
這個決定是上週四由聯邦政府宣佈的，決定阻止中國的國有國家電網公司和香港億萬富翁李嘉誠的長江實業基礎設施資產公司共同對於澳洲電網佔股比例達50.4%的競標，澳洲電網公司是澳大利亞最大州新南威爾士州的主要電網公司。

But the move has led to accusations from some critics that Canberra had pandered to xenophobia. However, others defended the move, saying that allowing the power network to be controlled by foreigners - particularly from China - posed a serious security risk.
但是這樣的決定已經導致了一些批評家的指控，他們說堪培拉已經迎合排外情緒了。儘管這樣，另外一些人對這樣的決定進行辯解，他們說允許電網由外國人控制---特別是由來自中國的外國人控制---會產生嚴重的安全風險。

One of the most vocal critics was Australia’s former foreign minister, Mr Bob Carr, now director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, who said the government had bowed to "economic populism". He suggested the ruling Coalition, narrowly re-elected on July 2, was motivated by the results of the election in which several protectionist candidates won seats.
最直言不諱的批評者之一是現任悉尼大學的澳中關係研究所所長的澳大利亞前外交部長鮑勃?卡爾先生，他說政府已經屈服於“經濟民粹主義”。他暗示說7月2日以微弱優勢當選的執政聯盟被選舉結果所鼓舞，在這個選舉中幾個保護主義候選人贏得了席位。
"It’s a huge concession - the first major policy sacrifice - to the witch’s Sabbath stirred up in the recent federal election," he told The Australian.
“這是一個巨大的讓步——第一個重大政策犧牲——這是在女巫安息日，在最近的聯邦選舉中攪動起來的的罪惡。“他告訴澳大利亞人說。
The Treasurer, Mr Scott Morrison, refused to detail his specific security concerns but insisted the decision was not "country-specific".
澳大利亞國庫部長SCOTT MORRISON拒絕說出他對於哪些安全問題關心，但是強調說這個決定不是針對某個特定國家。
However, numerous commentators said the government’s anxiety was heightened by the possible involvement of a state-owned Chinese firm, especially following Beijing’s increasing territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea.
然而衆多評論家說中國國有公司的參與，特別是北京增加了其在南中國海領土的自信之後，這些都加劇了政府的焦慮。
According to a report in The Australian Financial Review on Saturday, "every national security agency in the country advised against it (the deal)".
據上週六《澳洲金融評論》報道稱,“這個國家（澳大利亞）每一個國家安全機構都建議反對它(此項交易)”
"The issue, according to people briefed on the matter, was not so much evidence of wrongdoing against the bidders... It was about the longer-term strategic uncertainty in the geo-political relationship."
這個問題，據知情人士說，並不是針對投標人做了多明顯的錯事……這是地緣關係中長期戰略的不確定性。
The battle over Ausgrid comes amid similarly heated debates in Britain and the United States over the involvement of China in sensitive or critical infrastructure projects. Last month, Britain’s new Prime Minister, Mrs Theresa May, delayed a final decision on a US$24 billion (S$32.3 billion) nuclear power station, apparently because of the involvement of state-owned China General Nuclear Power company.
英國和美國對於敏感的或者關鍵的基礎設施項目中有中國參與同樣有爭議，這和澳洲電網的爭議如出一轍。上個月，英國新首相特蕾莎?梅推遲一個240億美元核電站的最終決定,顯然是因爲國有企業中國通用核電公司的參與。
It emerged last week that the US authorities have issued nuclear espionage charges against the Chinese firm and also Mr. Allen Ho, an engineer employed by the company who has reportedly been accused of conspiring with the firm to steal US nuclear secrets as part of a plan to develop Chinese nuclear technology.
上週有消息稱美國當局已經指控這家中國公司和其僱員Mr. Allen Ho有間諜行爲。他們被指控合謀竊取美國的核機密來作爲發展中國核技術計劃的一部分。
As in Britain, the debate in Australia has focused on the rules for foreign investment and whether China should be treated differently to other nations. Several commentators noted that the Chinese and Hong Kong bidders have previously been allowed to make large-scale investments in Australia, including in gas and power.
同在英國的爭議一樣，在澳大利亞的爭議在於對於外國投資應該有怎樣的規則以及是否應該區別對待中國。有評論人士指出,中國和香港競標者曾獲准在澳大利亞進行包括天然氣和電力等方面的大規模投資。

However, a former senior defence official, Mr. Peter Jennings, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said electricity grids were becoming increasingly "hackable" added: "I think the more assertive Chinese international posture is going to complicate investment not only here but around the world," he told The Saturday Paper.
然而,前高級國防官員，現任澳大利亞戰略政策研究所所長彼得詹寧斯先生,表示電網變得越來越“可控制的”。他補充道:“我覺得更加自信的中國國際化態勢會讓其不僅僅在這裏投資，並且會在世界各地投資,”他對《星期六週報》表示說。