2023考研英語閱讀跨國公司在中國
Multinationals in China
跨國公司在中國
Guardian warriors and golden eggs
金剛VS金蛋
The state s crackdowns on big firms are not allabout bashing foreigners
中國政府制裁大公司,對(duì)象絕非僅是外國人
FOREIGN companies love to complain about doing business in China.
外國公司喜歡抱怨在中國做生意,游戲規(guī)則于其不利;
The rules of the game are rigged against them, they grouse, the locals are corrupt and thegovernment is always turning the thumbscrews on them.
他們埋怨華人腐敗,政府總是給其穿小鞋。
Amid such moans it is worth remembering that, for all the barriers that foreign multinationalsface in China, it has welcomed them with open arms compared with the protectionismimposed by Japanand South Koreaat comparable stages in their economic development.
比起同期日本、韓國為發(fā)展經(jīng)濟(jì)而實(shí)行的貿(mào)易保護(hù)政策,這種牢騷便值得留念;即便跨國公司在中國面臨著重重壁壘,畢竟中國還是張開手臂表示歡迎。
Nevertheless, the recent spate of high-profile crackdowns on international firms, and peopleassociated with them,has prompted worries about a generalised anti-foreigner backlash.
然而,近期備受矚目的中國制裁跨國公司浪潮讓相關(guān)人員擔(dān)心中國民眾會(huì)產(chǎn)生強(qiáng)烈的排外情緒。
This week police in Shanghai formally arrested a British fraud investigator, Peter Humphrey,whom they had detained for six weeks as part of an inquiry into alleged bribery of doctorsby foreign drug firms, along with his wife, also an investigator.
本周,上海警方正式逮捕一名英國公民商業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)情報(bào)人員彼特漢弗萊。為調(diào)查所謂的外國公司醫(yī)療行賄,漢弗萊已被拘留六周。同時(shí)被批捕的還有漢弗萊的妻子,后者也是一名競(jìng)爭(zhēng)情報(bào)人員。
Mr Humphrey had done work for GlaxoSmithKline, a British drugs firm, four of whose Chinesemanagers were arrested last month.
漢弗萊曾在英國藥品公司葛蘭素史克工作,上月GSK四名中國區(qū)高管被捕。
Since these arrests other foreign drugmakers have come under investigation, including Sanofiand Eli Lilly.
此后,包括賽諾菲制藥集團(tuán)、禮來公司在內(nèi)的其他外國制藥公司均被中方調(diào)查,
All three firms say they will co-operate with the inquiries.
三家公司均表示愿意協(xié)助中方調(diào)查。
There have also been crackdowns onalleged price-fixing by foreign manufacturers of milk formula, and regulators are scrutinisingthe prices charged by foreign carmakers and their joint ventures with local firms.
此外,中方還在制裁外國公司壟斷奶粉配方價(jià)格,監(jiān)察部門正仔細(xì)審查外國汽車制造商提出的報(bào)價(jià),并調(diào)查其同國內(nèi)公司的合資公司。
Now foreign technology firms are worried that they may be next.
現(xiàn)在,外國科技公司擔(dān)心自己會(huì)成為下一個(gè)調(diào)查對(duì)象。
Chinese nationalists were outraged when Huawei, a local telecoms-equipment giant, wasblacklisted last year by American politicians on unsubstantiated allegations of spying.
當(dāng)中國電信設(shè)備巨頭華為被美國政客以未經(jīng)核實(shí)的間諜活動(dòng)為由列入黑名單時(shí),中國國內(nèi)的民族主義者勃然大怒。
But they grew apoplectic when Edward Snowden earlier this year revealed the extent ofAmerican spying on China.
但是,當(dāng)愛德華斯諾登早些時(shí)候揭露美對(duì)中采取間諜活動(dòng)的時(shí)候,他們更是怒不可遏。
Official media outlets have since been calling for the expulsion of Cisco and other leadingAmerican technology firms, dubbed the eight guardian warriors.
此后,中國官方媒體甚至呼吁驅(qū)逐思科及其他美國頂尖科技公司,并稱此舉為八大金剛。
This has made some observers nervous.
中國的上述舉動(dòng)也令其他公司感到不安,
Rhodium Group, a consultancy, gave warning that The implications for business prospects offoreign firms operating in the world s second largest economy are potentially far-reaching.
美國咨詢公司榮鼎集團(tuán)警告稱:這對(duì)于外國公司在世界第二大經(jīng)濟(jì)體的前景影響深遠(yuǎn)。
So, is the new Chinese government really about to boot out the foreigners?
那么,中國政府真會(huì)驅(qū)逐外國公司嗎?
Not likely.
看樣子不會(huì),
Cut through the official media s hype about greedy foreigners and it seems that a mix ofmotives is at work.
通過官方媒體對(duì)貪婪外國投資者的大肆宣揚(yáng)不難看出其動(dòng)機(jī)正在奏效。
Consumers are growing ever angrier about the cost of living in China s main cities, be thatthe soaring prices of homes, health care or safe food.
消費(fèi)者對(duì)于中國主要城市的生活成本越發(fā)憤怒,或是物價(jià)飛漲、或是醫(yī)療保健、亦或是食品安全問題。
So it seems the government, which despite its tight grip on power does care about publicopinion, is putting on a noisy show of trust busting.
因此,盡管政府攥緊權(quán)杖,但仍很在乎民意,打壓跨國巨頭的好戲也就隨之上演。
Foreign firms are not the only targets:
外國公司并非此次行動(dòng)唯一的打擊對(duì)象:
recent action on alleged price-fixing by jewellers and the distillers of spirits, for example,nabbed only Chinese firms.
比如近期對(duì)珠寶商價(jià)格壟斷及整風(fēng)活動(dòng)均是針對(duì)中國公司。
The antitrust regulator is now promising to get tough on telecoms and bankingtwoindustries dominated by domestic firms.
反壟斷監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)正對(duì)電信公司及銀行采取更嚴(yán)厲措施兩個(gè)由中國國內(nèi)公司主宰的行業(yè)。
In contrast the drugs industry is dominated by foreign firms.
相比之下,藥品行業(yè)則由外國公司左右。
Doctors are underpaid and thus highly susceptible to being incentivised to peddle priceypills.
醫(yī)生工資低,因此更容易被蠱惑兜售昂貴藥物。
Most patients have to pay for their treatments, are angry at how much they cost and blamegraft among health professionals.
大部分病人治療都得付費(fèi),對(duì)高昂的醫(yī)療費(fèi)用極為憤怒,隨之將這種情緒轉(zhuǎn)嫁到醫(yī)護(hù)人員身上。
So by cracking down on alleged bribery by the foreign drug firms, the new Chinesegovernment is also fulfilling another promise it made on taking office last year, to stamp outcorruption.
因此,通過制裁國外藥品公司行賄一事,新任中國國家主席也是在履行其去年上任時(shí)的另一項(xiàng)承諾,即反腐工作。
A crutch for lame ducks
跛子的拐杖
In many industries where local firms compete hard with foreign-backed ventures, theChinese firms are struggling.
中國公司在許多行業(yè)面臨著外國合資公司的激烈競(jìng)爭(zhēng),其發(fā)展舉步維艱。
Often their products are perceived as lower-quality or unsafe.
中國公司的產(chǎn)品通常被視作低質(zhì)、不安全,
The economic slowdown is making things worse for them.
經(jīng)濟(jì)增速放緩對(duì)他們來說更是雪上加霜。
Although regulators, by getting tough with the foreign firms first, are propping up some locallame ducks in the short term, they may be setting a precedent, and softening up publicopinion, for when they eventually turn on the local firms.
盡管政府首先拿外國公司開刀,短期內(nèi)仍舊支持國內(nèi)公司,但其或許會(huì)有先例,最終會(huì)對(duì)國內(nèi)公司下手以平息民憤。
As for the foreign technology firms, and the fear that a nationalist backlash will drive themaway, it is true that some in officialdom and in the online Weibo-sphere are eager to see theirdeparture.
對(duì)于外國科技公司來說,對(duì)中國民族主義強(qiáng)烈抵制的憂慮會(huì)讓他們選擇離去。事實(shí)確實(shí)如此,部分官員、及微博圈子的人迫切希望看到他們退出中國市場(chǎng)。
And there is some evidence of such firms losing a contract here or there.
有證據(jù)顯示,此類公司在中國正相繼失去合作機(jī)會(huì)。
However, it will be bizarre if China were to chase away these firms in the same way thatAmerica has seen off Huawei.
然而,如果中國采取美國對(duì)待華為的態(tài)度驅(qū)逐這些外國公司,那就有些匪夷所思了。
American technology firms are the world s best.
美國科技公司是世界上最好的,
Americadoes not need Chinese technology, whereas China most certainly needs access toAmerican inventions.
美國不需要中國的技術(shù),但中國肯定是需要渠道獲得美國的發(fā)明。
In all, life for the many multinationals operating in China may get more difficult, with furthercases of harassment by officials likely to emerge.
總而言之,對(duì)于眾多在華經(jīng)營的跨國公司來說,其生存環(huán)境或許會(huì)更加苦難,未來中方政府的進(jìn)一步調(diào)查似乎不可避免。
But it seems unlikely, in most cases, that they will be forced out of the country.
但是,看樣子大部分情況下他們是不會(huì)被驅(qū)逐出中國市場(chǎng)。
China s model of economic development depends, and has depended for years, on inviting inthe world s best companies,andlegally or otherwisebenefiting from their intellectualproperty.
中國的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展模式需要依靠、過去許多年也一直在依靠吸引國外最好的公司,并合法或者非法從其知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)中獲益。
So why would China kill the goose that lays the golden egg?
因此,中國難道會(huì)殺了這只下金蛋的鵝?
詞語解釋
1.complain about 抱怨,投訴
Do you complain about big things or little things?
你抱怨的是大事情還是小東西?
Now you can t complain about it falling apart.
現(xiàn)在車要散架了,你不能埋怨。
2.compare with 與相比;比得上
Life isn t fair-don t compare with or be jealous of others.
生活并不是公平的不要比較也不要嫉妒別人。
Atheists have precious little to compare with this.
相比之下,無神論者的資源就少得可憐。
3.along with 和一起,隨著
Along with time, it will take effort.
隨著時(shí)間的推移,一定會(huì)成功的。
Along with memories, she came home with several mementoes.
她帶了一些紀(jì)念品回家,連同她的美好回憶。
Multinationals in China
跨國公司在中國
Guardian warriors and golden eggs
金剛VS金蛋
The state s crackdowns on big firms are not allabout bashing foreigners
中國政府制裁大公司,對(duì)象絕非僅是外國人
FOREIGN companies love to complain about doing business in China.
外國公司喜歡抱怨在中國做生意,游戲規(guī)則于其不利;
The rules of the game are rigged against them, they grouse, the locals are corrupt and thegovernment is always turning the thumbscrews on them.
他們埋怨華人腐敗,政府總是給其穿小鞋。
Amid such moans it is worth remembering that, for all the barriers that foreign multinationalsface in China, it has welcomed them with open arms compared with the protectionismimposed by Japanand South Koreaat comparable stages in their economic development.
比起同期日本、韓國為發(fā)展經(jīng)濟(jì)而實(shí)行的貿(mào)易保護(hù)政策,這種牢騷便值得留念;即便跨國公司在中國面臨著重重壁壘,畢竟中國還是張開手臂表示歡迎。
Nevertheless, the recent spate of high-profile crackdowns on international firms, and peopleassociated with them,has prompted worries about a generalised anti-foreigner backlash.
然而,近期備受矚目的中國制裁跨國公司浪潮讓相關(guān)人員擔(dān)心中國民眾會(huì)產(chǎn)生強(qiáng)烈的排外情緒。
This week police in Shanghai formally arrested a British fraud investigator, Peter Humphrey,whom they had detained for six weeks as part of an inquiry into alleged bribery of doctorsby foreign drug firms, along with his wife, also an investigator.
本周,上海警方正式逮捕一名英國公民商業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)情報(bào)人員彼特漢弗萊。為調(diào)查所謂的外國公司醫(yī)療行賄,漢弗萊已被拘留六周。同時(shí)被批捕的還有漢弗萊的妻子,后者也是一名競(jìng)爭(zhēng)情報(bào)人員。
Mr Humphrey had done work for GlaxoSmithKline, a British drugs firm, four of whose Chinesemanagers were arrested last month.
漢弗萊曾在英國藥品公司葛蘭素史克工作,上月GSK四名中國區(qū)高管被捕。
Since these arrests other foreign drugmakers have come under investigation, including Sanofiand Eli Lilly.
此后,包括賽諾菲制藥集團(tuán)、禮來公司在內(nèi)的其他外國制藥公司均被中方調(diào)查,
All three firms say they will co-operate with the inquiries.
三家公司均表示愿意協(xié)助中方調(diào)查。
There have also been crackdowns onalleged price-fixing by foreign manufacturers of milk formula, and regulators are scrutinisingthe prices charged by foreign carmakers and their joint ventures with local firms.
此外,中方還在制裁外國公司壟斷奶粉配方價(jià)格,監(jiān)察部門正仔細(xì)審查外國汽車制造商提出的報(bào)價(jià),并調(diào)查其同國內(nèi)公司的合資公司。
Now foreign technology firms are worried that they may be next.
現(xiàn)在,外國科技公司擔(dān)心自己會(huì)成為下一個(gè)調(diào)查對(duì)象。
Chinese nationalists were outraged when Huawei, a local telecoms-equipment giant, wasblacklisted last year by American politicians on unsubstantiated allegations of spying.
當(dāng)中國電信設(shè)備巨頭華為被美國政客以未經(jīng)核實(shí)的間諜活動(dòng)為由列入黑名單時(shí),中國國內(nèi)的民族主義者勃然大怒。
But they grew apoplectic when Edward Snowden earlier this year revealed the extent ofAmerican spying on China.
但是,當(dāng)愛德華斯諾登早些時(shí)候揭露美對(duì)中采取間諜活動(dòng)的時(shí)候,他們更是怒不可遏。
Official media outlets have since been calling for the expulsion of Cisco and other leadingAmerican technology firms, dubbed the eight guardian warriors.
此后,中國官方媒體甚至呼吁驅(qū)逐思科及其他美國頂尖科技公司,并稱此舉為八大金剛。
This has made some observers nervous.
中國的上述舉動(dòng)也令其他公司感到不安,
Rhodium Group, a consultancy, gave warning that The implications for business prospects offoreign firms operating in the world s second largest economy are potentially far-reaching.
美國咨詢公司榮鼎集團(tuán)警告稱:這對(duì)于外國公司在世界第二大經(jīng)濟(jì)體的前景影響深遠(yuǎn)。
So, is the new Chinese government really about to boot out the foreigners?
那么,中國政府真會(huì)驅(qū)逐外國公司嗎?
Not likely.
看樣子不會(huì),
Cut through the official media s hype about greedy foreigners and it seems that a mix ofmotives is at work.
通過官方媒體對(duì)貪婪外國投資者的大肆宣揚(yáng)不難看出其動(dòng)機(jī)正在奏效。
Consumers are growing ever angrier about the cost of living in China s main cities, be thatthe soaring prices of homes, health care or safe food.
消費(fèi)者對(duì)于中國主要城市的生活成本越發(fā)憤怒,或是物價(jià)飛漲、或是醫(yī)療保健、亦或是食品安全問題。
So it seems the government, which despite its tight grip on power does care about publicopinion, is putting on a noisy show of trust busting.
因此,盡管政府攥緊權(quán)杖,但仍很在乎民意,打壓跨國巨頭的好戲也就隨之上演。
Foreign firms are not the only targets:
外國公司并非此次行動(dòng)唯一的打擊對(duì)象:
recent action on alleged price-fixing by jewellers and the distillers of spirits, for example,nabbed only Chinese firms.
比如近期對(duì)珠寶商價(jià)格壟斷及整風(fēng)活動(dòng)均是針對(duì)中國公司。
The antitrust regulator is now promising to get tough on telecoms and bankingtwoindustries dominated by domestic firms.
反壟斷監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)正對(duì)電信公司及銀行采取更嚴(yán)厲措施兩個(gè)由中國國內(nèi)公司主宰的行業(yè)。
In contrast the drugs industry is dominated by foreign firms.
相比之下,藥品行業(yè)則由外國公司左右。
Doctors are underpaid and thus highly susceptible to being incentivised to peddle priceypills.
醫(yī)生工資低,因此更容易被蠱惑兜售昂貴藥物。
Most patients have to pay for their treatments, are angry at how much they cost and blamegraft among health professionals.
大部分病人治療都得付費(fèi),對(duì)高昂的醫(yī)療費(fèi)用極為憤怒,隨之將這種情緒轉(zhuǎn)嫁到醫(yī)護(hù)人員身上。
So by cracking down on alleged bribery by the foreign drug firms, the new Chinesegovernment is also fulfilling another promise it made on taking office last year, to stamp outcorruption.
因此,通過制裁國外藥品公司行賄一事,新任中國國家主席也是在履行其去年上任時(shí)的另一項(xiàng)承諾,即反腐工作。
A crutch for lame ducks
跛子的拐杖
In many industries where local firms compete hard with foreign-backed ventures, theChinese firms are struggling.
中國公司在許多行業(yè)面臨著外國合資公司的激烈競(jìng)爭(zhēng),其發(fā)展舉步維艱。
Often their products are perceived as lower-quality or unsafe.
中國公司的產(chǎn)品通常被視作低質(zhì)、不安全,
The economic slowdown is making things worse for them.
經(jīng)濟(jì)增速放緩對(duì)他們來說更是雪上加霜。
Although regulators, by getting tough with the foreign firms first, are propping up some locallame ducks in the short term, they may be setting a precedent, and softening up publicopinion, for when they eventually turn on the local firms.
盡管政府首先拿外國公司開刀,短期內(nèi)仍舊支持國內(nèi)公司,但其或許會(huì)有先例,最終會(huì)對(duì)國內(nèi)公司下手以平息民憤。
As for the foreign technology firms, and the fear that a nationalist backlash will drive themaway, it is true that some in officialdom and in the online Weibo-sphere are eager to see theirdeparture.
對(duì)于外國科技公司來說,對(duì)中國民族主義強(qiáng)烈抵制的憂慮會(huì)讓他們選擇離去。事實(shí)確實(shí)如此,部分官員、及微博圈子的人迫切希望看到他們退出中國市場(chǎng)。
And there is some evidence of such firms losing a contract here or there.
有證據(jù)顯示,此類公司在中國正相繼失去合作機(jī)會(huì)。
However, it will be bizarre if China were to chase away these firms in the same way thatAmerica has seen off Huawei.
然而,如果中國采取美國對(duì)待華為的態(tài)度驅(qū)逐這些外國公司,那就有些匪夷所思了。
American technology firms are the world s best.
美國科技公司是世界上最好的,
Americadoes not need Chinese technology, whereas China most certainly needs access toAmerican inventions.
美國不需要中國的技術(shù),但中國肯定是需要渠道獲得美國的發(fā)明。
In all, life for the many multinationals operating in China may get more difficult, with furthercases of harassment by officials likely to emerge.
總而言之,對(duì)于眾多在華經(jīng)營的跨國公司來說,其生存環(huán)境或許會(huì)更加苦難,未來中方政府的進(jìn)一步調(diào)查似乎不可避免。
But it seems unlikely, in most cases, that they will be forced out of the country.
但是,看樣子大部分情況下他們是不會(huì)被驅(qū)逐出中國市場(chǎng)。
China s model of economic development depends, and has depended for years, on inviting inthe world s best companies,andlegally or otherwisebenefiting from their intellectualproperty.
中國的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展模式需要依靠、過去許多年也一直在依靠吸引國外最好的公司,并合法或者非法從其知識(shí)產(chǎn)權(quán)中獲益。
So why would China kill the goose that lays the golden egg?
因此,中國難道會(huì)殺了這只下金蛋的鵝?
詞語解釋
1.complain about 抱怨,投訴
Do you complain about big things or little things?
你抱怨的是大事情還是小東西?
Now you can t complain about it falling apart.
現(xiàn)在車要散架了,你不能埋怨。
2.compare with 與相比;比得上
Life isn t fair-don t compare with or be jealous of others.
生活并不是公平的不要比較也不要嫉妒別人。
Atheists have precious little to compare with this.
相比之下,無神論者的資源就少得可憐。
3.along with 和一起,隨著
Along with time, it will take effort.
隨著時(shí)間的推移,一定會(huì)成功的。
Along with memories, she came home with several mementoes.
她帶了一些紀(jì)念品回家,連同她的美好回憶。