中國因“薩德”加大對韓企施壓

Hyundai Motor has postponed the launch of its Sonata plug-in hybrid in China and construction on Lotte Group’s $2.6bn Chinese theme park project has been halted as Beijing steps up economic retaliation against South Korean companies over Seoul’s planned deployment of a US-made missile shield.

現(xiàn)代汽車(Hyundai Motor)推遲在中國推出索納塔(Sonata)插電式混合動力車，同時樂天集團(Lotte Group)在中國的26億美元主題公園項目建設(shè)被叫停。目前北京方面因首爾計劃部署美國制造的導彈防御系統(tǒng)而加緊對韓國企業(yè)進行經(jīng)濟報復。

They are the latest examples of the business fallout from rising tension between the two countries as Beijing objects to Seoul’s deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence platform, which it fears could be used by the US to spy on its territory.

這是中韓兩國日趨緊張的關(guān)系沖擊企業(yè)的最新例證，北京方面反對首爾部署“末段高空區(qū)域防御系統(tǒng)”(Terminal High Altitude Area Defence，中文簡稱：薩德)，擔心該平臺可能被美國用來對中國境內(nèi)進行縱深偵察。

Hyundai had planned to launch its first plug-in hybrid model in China this year, but on Wednesday said it would roll out a plug-in hybrid with the latest Sonata model next year. The upgraded Sonata will debut in South Korea later this year.

現(xiàn)代汽車原計劃今年在中國推出首款插電式混合動力車型，但該公司周三表示，將于明年推出混合動力的最新索納塔車型。升級后的索納塔車型將于今年晚些時候在韓國亮相。

Analysts expect Hyundai to switch to a Chinese battery supplier for the new electric vehicle, replacing LG Chem, as electric vehicles equipped with Korean-made batteries have been disqualified from government subsidies in China following Seoul’s decision in July to host the Thaad system.

分析師預計，現(xiàn)代將為這款新型電動汽車轉(zhuǎn)向一家中國電池供應(yīng)商，取代LG化學(LG Chem)，因為在首爾去年7月決定部署薩德系統(tǒng)后，裝有韓國制造電池的電動汽車在中國已被取消獲得政府補貼的資格。

“Considering various factors in Chinese market and price competitiveness, Hyundai Motor Company is also reviewing co-operation with Chinese battery suppliers,” the company said.

該公司表示：“考慮到中國市場的各種因素和價格競爭力，現(xiàn)代汽車公司還正在評估與中國電池供應(yīng)商的合作。”

The delayed China launch is a setback for South Korea’s biggest carmaker, which has been trying to revive flagging sales in the world’s largest auto market with a bet on growing demand for electric vehicles fuelled by Beijing’s efforts to tackle air pollution.

推遲在中國推出新車型是韓國最大汽車制造商遭遇的一次挫折，現(xiàn)代汽車一直試圖在世界最大汽車市場重振疲軟的銷售，押注于中國政府解決空氣污染的努力所推動的對電動汽車日益增長的需求。

“Hyundai has to diversify its battery suppliers to get China’s subsidy. But it takes time because the company has to change the car design if it is going use a different battery,” said Yoo Ji-woong, analyst at eBest Securities. eBest Securities

分析師Yoo Ji-woong表示：“現(xiàn)代不得不拓寬電池供應(yīng)商的范圍以獲得中國的補貼。但這需要時間，因為如果要使用一款不同的電池，該公司就不得不更改汽車的設(shè)計。”

China has been stepping up retaliatory measures against South Korean companies to put pressure on Seoul to change its stance on the Thaad deployment. Seoul is aiming to deploy the anti-missile system between May and July this year on land that is currently a golf course owned by Lotte.

中國一直在加強針對韓國企業(yè)的報復性措施，以施壓首爾改變對部署“薩德”的立場。首爾計劃今年5月至7月間在目前是樂天的一個高爾夫球場的土地上部署這一反導系統(tǒng)。

Lotte said on Wednesday that construction on “Lotte Town” in Shenyang was suspended in December after Beijing took issue with procedural matters following a fire inspection. Construction of residential facilities and a theme park in addition to a department store and cinema is expected to resume at the end of March after the procedural issues are addressed.

樂天周三表示，位于沈陽的“樂天城”(Lotte Town)的建設(shè)已于去年12月被叫停，此前在進行消防檢查后，中國政府對程序事項提出異議。包括公寓、主題公園、百貨商場和電影院的項目建設(shè)，預計將在3月底程序事項解決后恢復。

But analysts predict more economic distress for South Korean companies in coming months, as China buys one quarter of its neighbour’s exports, making it Korea’s biggest economic partner.

但分析師預計，未來幾個月韓國企業(yè)將面臨更多經(jīng)濟壓力，因為中國是韓國最大的經(jīng)濟合作伙伴，對華出口占韓國總出口的四分之一。

As part of the Thaad backlash, Beijing recently has blocked imports of high-tech bidets and some cosmetics, cancelled music concerts by South Koreans and restricted Chinese flights and tourism to Korea.

作為報復韓國部署“薩德”的一部分，北京近期已經(jīng)阻止了韓國產(chǎn)高科技潔身器及部分化妝品的進口，取消了韓國藝人音樂會，并限制前往韓國的中國航班和游客。