US Concerns about Chinese Tech Slow Some Silicon Valley Deals
美國對中國科技的擔憂延緩了硅谷投資
The United States and China are seeking to be the world's leader in artificial intelligence, or AI, and other fast-developing technologies.
美國和中國正在尋求成為人工智能以及其它快速發(fā)展技術的全球領導者。
But this high-tech competition has been affected by U.S. concerns about some Chinese investments in American businesses.
但是這種高科技競爭受到了影響,美國擔憂中國對美國企業(yè)的投資。
For years, cooperation has grown between China and California's Silicon Valley, home to many of the world's top technology companies. But the current U.S. administration has increased scrutiny of Chinese investments in Silicon Valley. This has caused some U.S. startups to turn down Chinese investments.
多年來,中國和加州硅谷之間的合作不斷發(fā)展。硅谷是許多全球頂級高科技公司的所在地。但是目前美國政府已經加大了對中國在硅谷投資的審查力度,這導致一些美國初創(chuàng)公司拒絕中國投資。
Michael Wessel heads the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The U.S. government organization investigates whether U.S.-China economic and trade relations are affecting U.S. national security.
邁克爾·威賽爾(Michael Wessel)是美中經濟與安全審查委員的負責人。這家美國政府機構負責調查中美經貿關系是否影響美國國家安全。
Wessel recently told a Congressional hearing that China is currently very active in many areas of technology innovation. "China wants to be a global innovation leader and is doing all that it can legally and illegally to achieve its goals," he said.
威塞爾最近在國會聽證會上表示,中國目前在很多技術創(chuàng)新領域都很活躍。他說:“中國希望成為全球創(chuàng)新領導者,并且正盡其所能以實現(xiàn)這個目標。”
The U.S. has accused China of carrying out cyberattacks on U.S. businesses in an effort to steal company secrets. U.S. officials have also raised concerns about rules that require American companies to turn over their technology to Chinese partners.
美國指責中國對美國企業(yè)發(fā)動網絡攻擊試圖竊取公司機密。美國官員也對美國公司需要向中國合作伙伴轉讓技術的規(guī)定表示擔憂。
The issues have also complicated ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China.
這些問題也使得中美之間正在進行的貿易談判復雜化。
Accusations against Huawei
對華為的指控
One major company facing U.S. accusations is Chinese technology company Huawei. The company's chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, faces fraud charges in the United States. Meng is being held in Canada after being arrested in December, and U.S. officials are seeking to bring her back to the U.S. to face the charges.
中國華為科技科技是一家面臨美國指控的大公司。該公司首席財務官孟晚舟在美國面臨欺詐指控。孟晚舟去年12月被捕后扣押在加拿大,美國官員正試圖將她帶回美國受審。
U.S. government lawyers have said Huawei violated U.S. restrictions against sales to Iran. In addition, they accuse the company of stealing trade secrets from technology company T-Mobile.
美國政府律師稱華為違反了美國對伊朗禁售。此外,他們還指控該公司竊取T-Mobile科技公司的商業(yè)機密。
Huawei is currently working on building 5G systems – the next generation in wireless technology - in countries around the world. The 5G development has caused tensions between the U.S. and China. U.S. officials have long suspected the Chinese government could use Huawei network equipment to help carry out spying activities. Huawei has rejected such accusations.
華為目前正致力于在世界各國建設5G系統(tǒng)這種下一代無線技術。5G的發(fā)展已經導致中美之間關系緊張。美國官員長期以來一直懷疑中國政府可能利用華為網絡設備幫助開展間諜活動,華為公司否認這種指控。
U.S. restrictions
美國制裁
The U.S. government has urged American companies not to use Chinese technology in its communications systems because of security concerns. It has also pressed other countries to ban Huawei from building 5G networks.
出于安全考量,美國政府已經督促美國公司不要在其通信系統(tǒng)中采用中國技術,并迫使其它國家禁止華為承擔5G網絡建設。
U.S. officials want to put restrictions on several kinds of technology – including AI and robotics - because it sees them as possible threats to national security.
美國官員希望限制包括人工智能和機器人技術在內的幾種技術,因為它認為這些技術可能對國家安全構成威脅。
But many in the tech industry say such restrictions could end up harming U.S. businesses. Tim Draper operates a major investment company in Silicon Valley. He told VOA he was one of the first U.S. investors in Chinese technology company Baidu.
但是很多科技行業(yè)人士表示,這類限制可能最終會損害美國企業(yè)。蒂姆·德雷珀(Tim Draper)在硅谷經營著一家大型投資公司。他對美國之音表示,他是中國百度科技公司的首批美國投資者之一。
"I think we should be open and sharing," Draper said. "Both countries benefit so much by having a very open communication lane. I believe we have a problem that we are putting up barriers where they don't benefit us."
德雷珀表示:“我認為我們應該開放和分享。兩國都從非常開放的溝通渠道當中受益匪淺。我認為我們的問題是在不利于自己的方面設置障礙。”
It remains unclear how long the current investment environment will last in Silicon Valley. But for now, it seems many investors and startup companies have accepted a cooling off period for Chinese-related investments.
目前尚不清楚目前這種投資環(huán)境將在硅谷持續(xù)多久。但是就目前而言,似乎很多投資者和初創(chuàng)公司已經接受了中國投資的冷遇期。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
布萊恩·林恩報道。
The United States and China are seeking to be the world’s leader in artificial intelligence, or AI, and other fast-developing technologies.
But this high-tech competition has been affected by U.S. concerns about some Chinese investments in American businesses.
For years, cooperation has grown between China and California’s Silicon Valley, home to many of the world’s top technology companies. But the current U.S. administration has increased scrutiny of Chinese investments in Silicon Valley. This has caused some U.S. startups to turn down Chinese investments.
Michael Wessel heads the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The U.S. government organization investigates whether U.S.-China economic and trade relations are affecting U.S. national security.
Wessel recently told a Congressional hearing that China is currently very active in many areas of technology innovation. “China wants to be a global innovation leader and is doing all that it can legally and illegally to achieve its goals,” he said.
The U.S. has accused China of carrying out cyberattacks on U.S. businesses in an effort to steal company secrets. U.S. officials have also raised concerns about rules that require American companies to turn over their technology to Chinese partners.
The issues have also complicated ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China.
Accusations against Huawei
One major company facing U.S. accusations is Chinese technology company Huawei. The company’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, faces fraud charges in the United States. Meng is being held in Canada after being arrested in December, and U.S. officials are seeking to bring her back to the U.S. to face the charges.
U.S. government lawyers have said Huawei violated U.S. restrictions against sales to Iran. In addition, they accuse the company of stealing trade secrets from technology company T-Mobile.
Huawei is currently working on building 5G systems – the next generation in wireless technology - in countries around the world. The 5G development has caused tensions between the U.S. and China. U.S. officials have long suspected the Chinese government could use Huawei network equipment to help carry out spying activities. Huawei has rejected such accusations.
U.S. restrictions
The U.S. government has urged American companies not to use Chinese technology in its communications systems because of security concerns. It has also pressed other countries to ban Huawei from building 5G networks.
U.S. officials want to put restrictions on several kinds of technology – including AI and robotics - because it sees them as possible threats to national security.
But many in the tech industry say such restrictions could end up harming U.S. businesses. Tim Draper operates a major investment company in Silicon Valley. He told VOA he was one of the first U.S. investors in Chinese technology company Baidu.
“I think we should be open and sharing,” Draper said. “Both countries benefit so much by having a very open communication lane. I believe we have a problem that we are putting up barriers where they don’t benefit us.”
It remains unclear how long the current investment environment will last in Silicon Valley. But for now, it seems many investors and startup companies have accepted a cooling off period for Chinese-related investments.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
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Words in This Story
artificial intelligence – n. the ability of a machine to use and analyze data in an attempt to reproduce human behavior
scrutiny – n. careful examination of something
innovation – n. a new idea or method that is being tried for the first time, or the use of such ideas or methods
achieve – v. to succeed in doing something good
complicate – v. make something more difficult
benefit – v. something that helps you or gives an advantage
lane – n. a route regularly used by vehicles, boats, etc.