日本競標澳大利亞潛艇合同獲先機

Japan is in pole position to win the A$20bn contract to replace Australia’s ageing submarine fleet, edging out European manufacturers which are also eager to build the vessels.

在角逐價值達200億澳元的替換澳大利亞老舊潛艇編隊的合同時，日本已佔得先機，把也希望建造這些艦艇的歐洲生產商落在身後。

Japan’s chances improved after Australia opted against holding an open tender and follows a recent defence co-operation deal between Tokyo and Canberra. There have also been ministerial-level talks on the potential purchase of Soryu-class submarines built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

在澳大利亞決定不開展公開招標之後，日本的勝算有所加大。不久前，日本和澳大利亞簽訂了一項防務合作協議。兩國也在就澳方可能購買由三菱重工(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)和川崎重工(Kawasaki Heavy Industries)建造的蒼龍級(Soryu-class)潛艇一事進行部長級談判。

If a deal were to be agreed it would represent the largest export of military equipment by Japan since it adopted strict rules on weapons’ sales in the aftermath of the second world war.

如果日澳達成一項潛艇建造協議，那麼這將成爲自二戰後接受嚴格的武器出口規則以來，規模最大的一宗日本軍事設備出口案。

Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government initially pledged to build the new fleet in Australia, a move that would support thousands of local jobs. But it recently raised concerns about the ability of the Australian Submarine Corporation – the state-owned manufacturer that built the Collins-class vessels – to replace them cost effectively. Last week David Johnston, defence minister, said he would not trust the ASC “to build a canoe”.

起初，總理託尼•阿博特(Tony Abbott)領導的澳大利亞政府承諾在國內建造新的潛艇編隊，此舉將爲國內提供數千個就業崗位。但近來，澳政府對澳大利亞潛艇公司(ASC)是否能以較低成本替代現有潛艇提出了擔憂。現有的柯林斯級(Collins-class)潛艇是由國有的澳大利亞潛艇公司建造的。上週，澳國防部長戴維•約翰斯頓(David Johnston)表示，就連“造一條獨木舟”，他都信不過澳大利亞潛艇公司。

Defence analysts said the decision not to hold an open tender could favour a Japanese bid to build the submarines.

防務分析人士表示，澳方決定不舉行公開招標，可能有利於日本贏得這一潛艇建造合同。