Australian woman after surgery - has "Irish English Accent" when wakes up

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

手術を受けた豪女性、目覚めると「アイルランド英語のアクセント」に

2021.05.14 Fri posted at 14:50 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） 扁桃（へんとう）摘出手術を受けた数日後、目が覚めるとアイルランド英語のアクセントになっていた――。オーストラリア人の女性がそんな珍しい症状を明らかにした。

アンジー・イェンさん（２７）は動画投稿アプリ「ＴｉｋＴｏｋ（ティックトック）」で、アクセントが変化してからの日数を記録。その中で「目が覚めるとアイルランド英語になっていた。アイルランドに行ったことは一度もない」と語っている。

変化に気付いたのは扁桃摘出手術から９日後。シャワー中にアイルランドのアクセントで歌い出し、自分でショックを受けた。

過去にオーストラリア英語アクセントだった時の電話音声と比べると、現在との違いははっきりしている。

原因として最も可能性が高いのは、まれだが実在する症状「外国語様アクセント症候群」だ。頭部の負傷や脳卒中、通常の手術の後に発症する。

これについて専門家は「本当に外国語のアクセントになるわけではない。その人の母国語やアクセントが損なわれたものだ」と説明する。

アンジーさんの元には「アイルランド英語のふりをしているだけ」と批判するメッセージも寄せられた。これに対し、アンジーさんは動画で「残念だけど『ふり』ではない。外国のアクセントになって目覚めてからもう１３日目になる」と反論している。

外国語様アクセント症候群の症例はこれまで１５０例ほど報告されている。脳卒中を経験したフロリダの女性や、抜歯手術で麻酔を受けた後にアクセントが変化したオレゴンの女性などの例がある。

Translation

(CNN) A few days after undergoing tonsillectomy, she woke up with an Irish English accent. An Australian woman had revealed such a rare symptomatology.

Angie Yen (27) used her video posting app "TikTok" to record the number of days since her accent changed. She said in it that she "speaks in Irish English when she wakes up. She has never been to Ireland."

She noticed the change nine days after her tonsillectomy. She started singing with Irish accents during the shower and she herself was shocked.

Compared to her past phone voice when she had an Australian English accent, the difference with now was clear.

The most probable cause would be the rare but real symptom "foreign accent syndrome." It developed after head injuries, strokes, and routine surgery.

Experts explained this, "It's not really a foreign accent. It's a loss of the person's native language and accent."

Angie also received a message criticizing her as " just pretending to be Irish English." In response, Angie argued in her video that, "Unfortunately, it's not 'pretending'. It's been 13 days since waking up with a foreign accent."

About 150 cases of foreign accent syndrome had been reported so far. Examples include a Florida woman who had had a stroke, and an Oregon woman whose accents changed after being anesthetized for a tooth extraction surgery.

              So, it is a rare medical case known as the "foreign accent syndrome." It develops after head injuries, strokes, and routine surgery. It's a loss of a person's native language accent.

Italy - the bone remains of nine Neanderthals from a cave was an "Extraordinary discovery" - even with bite marks

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

かじられた跡も、洞窟からネアンデルタール人９人の骨　「並外れた発見」　伊

2021.05.14 Fri posted at 06:31 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） イタリアのリゾート地、サンフェリーチェチルチェーオ付近のガタリ洞窟でネアンデルタール人９人やハイエナの群れ、象数匹の骨が見つかり、考古学者を驚かせている。骨の多くにはハイエナにかじられたとみられる跡があった。

イタリアのダリオ・フランチェスキーニ文化相は声明で、「並外れた発見だ」と説明。「世界中で話題になるだろう」と述べた。

イタリア文化省の声明によると、ネアンデルタール人９人のうち１人の骨は９万～１０万年前のもの、他の８人の骨は５万～６万年前のものだという。いずれも男性で、１人だけ他よりも年齢が若かったとみられている。

この洞窟は１９３０年代に偶然発見された。考古学者らは、古代の地震か後の時代の地滑りで立ち入り不能になった区域に到達しようと調査を開始。３９年にはネアンデルタール人のものと考えられる保存状態の良い頭がい骨が発見されるなど、他にも２つの頭がい骨が見つかっていた。

文化省は声明で「過去に発見された他の２つの頭がい骨と合わせ、ガタリ洞窟で見つかったネアンデルタール人は計１１人になる。この洞窟がネアンデルタール人の歴史にとって世界有数の重要性を持つ場所であることが確認された」と述べた。

文化省によると、洞窟の天井で通気口が発見されたことから、一部の人類学者はネアンデルタール人が人肉食の儀式を行っていたと考えている。見つかった骨の一部は焼かれた状態だった。

洞窟のより奥深くからは切れ込みの入った骨も出土した。

今回発見された骨には胴体から分離した頭がい骨、歯２本、脊椎（せきつい）が含まれる。このほかゾウやサイ、巨大な鹿、馬、絶滅した牛のような動物オーロックスのものとされる骨も数百個見つかった。

文化省は声明で「骨の多くにはかじられた跡がはっきりと見えた。ハイエナの可能性が高い」との見方を示したものの、ハイエナに殺されたのか、死後に食べられたのかは不明だと説明した。考古学者の見方では、ハイエナたちは持ち帰った獲物を保管して食べる場所として洞窟を使っていた可能性があるという。

ネアンデルタール人は４万年あまり前に絶滅したが、家庭用ＤＮＡ検査キットの出現で一部の人にネアンデルタール人のＤＮＡを検出できるようになったことを受け、最近になってネアンデルタール人の歴史への関心が高まっている。

サンフェリーチェチルチェーオ地域は今や、古代人類の研究で最も重要な地域のひとつ。人間と動物の両方の歴史についての手がかりを含む一種のタイムカプセルになりそうだ。

プロジェクトを率いる考古学者のフランチェスコ・ディマリオ氏は文化省の動画で、今後は古代人類社会への知見を深める目的で骨の調査に着手すると述べた。洞窟の堆積（たいせき）物についても調査を行い、ネアンデルタール人絶滅の要因となったとみられている古代の気候変動の解明を目指す考えだ。

Translation

(CNN) In the Guattari Cave near San Felice Circeo, an Italian resort,  bones of nine Neanderthals, a herd of hyenas, and the several elephants were found, and this had surprised archaeologists. Many of the bones had marks that appeared to have been bitten by hyenas.

Italy's Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini said in a statement, "It's an extraordinary discovery." He said "it will be a hot topic all over the world".

According to a statement from the Italian Ministry of Culture, the bones of one of the nine Neanderthals were 90,000 to 100,000 years old, and the bones of the other eight were 50,000 to 60,000 years old. All are male, and it is believed that only one was younger than all others.

This cave was discovered by accident in the 1930s. Archaeologists began investigation to reach areas that were inaccessible due to ancient earthquakes or later time landslides. In 1939, two well-preserved skulls believed to belong to the Neanderthals were found, together with two other skull pieces.

In a statement, the Ministry of Culture said, "Combined with the other two skulls found in the past, a total of 11 Neanderthals have been found in the Guattari Cave. It is confirmed that this cave is one of the most important places in the history of the Neanderthals. "

According to the Ministry of Culture, some anthropologists believed that Neanderthals were performing carnivorous rituals because of the discovery of vents on the ceiling of the cave. Some of the bones found were in a burned state.

Notched bones were also excavated from locations deeper in the cave.

The bones found this time included the skull separated from the torso, two teeth, and a spine. Hundreds of other bones from animals such as elephants, rhinos, giant deer, horses, and aurochs the extinct cow-like animal were also found.

The Ministry of Culture said in a statement that "many of the bones have clear bite marks. It is likely that they were by hyenas." He explained that it was unknown whether they were killed by hyenas or eaten after his death. From the archaeologist's point of view, hyenas could have used the caves as a place to store the prey they brought back to eat.

Neanderthals became extinct about 40,000 years ago, but with the advent of home-use DNA test kits, it was found that Neanderthal DNA could to be detected in some people, and recently, interests in the history of Neanderthals had been growing.

The San Felice Circeo region was now one of the most important regions in the study of ancient humans. It was likely to be a kind of time capsule that contained clues about the history of both humans and animals.

Archaeologist Francesco Di Mario who led this project said in a video of the Ministry of Culture that he would begin investigating bones in the future to gain insight into ancient human society. He also intended to investigate cave deposits to unravel the ancient climate change that was believed to have contributed to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

              So, it is an interesting discovery on the development of human civilization. Further investigations on these bones probable could give us some insight into the ancient human society.

China's population growth rate - the lowest level in decades - national statistics

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

中国の人口増加率、過去数十年で最低の水準　国家統計

2021.05.11 Tue posted at 18:05 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 中国の国家統計局は１１日、２０２０年の人口が１４億１０００万人だったと明らかにした。人口の増加率は過去数十年で最低の水準となったが、この傾向は世界２位の経済力を擁する中国にとって深刻な問題を引き起こす可能性がある。

国家統計局によれば、２０２０年の人口は１０年前と比較して５．３８％増加した。人数にすると７２００万人増加した計算になる。

直近のデータでは年間の平均の人口増加率は０．５３％と、２０００年から２０１０年の増加率を０．０４ポイント下回った。

一方で、人口に占める６５歳以上の割合は２０１０年の８．８７％から、２０２０年は同１３．５％と急速に増加した。

中国は昨年１１月、新型コロナウイルスが流行するなか、７度目となる国勢調査のため７００万人の作業員を派遣していた。

中国政府は人口増加率の減少を逆転させようと取り組みを進めている。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) - China's National Bureau of Statistics revealed on the 11th that the population in 2020 was 1.41 billion. As population growth had been at its lowest level in decades, the trend could pose serious problems for China, the world's second-largest economy.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the population in 2020 had increased by 5.38% compared to 10 years ago. In terms of the number of people, it was calculated to show an increase of 72 million.

According to the latest data, the average annual population growth rate was 0.53%, 0.04 points lower than the growth rate from 2000 to 2010.

On the other hand, the proportion of the population aged 65 and over increased rapidly from 8.87% in 2010 to 13.5% in 2020.

In November last year, China sent out 7 million workers for this seventh census amid the new coronavirus epidemic.

The Chinese government was working to reverse a decline in population growth.

              So, in China the population in 2020 was 1.41 billion. One noted feature is that the number of people aged 65 and over has increased rapidly from 8.87% in 2010 to 13.5% in 2020. Now China needs more social service for the aged, and the working age population have to work harder to support the aged group.

Inevitable vaccine lost battle - 30 years of inaction, remove people’s ladder (2 of 2)

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

必然だったワクチン敗戦　不作為30年、民のはしご外す (2 of 2)

2021年5月9日 5:30 [有料会員限定]

(Continue)

新技術でインフルエンザワクチンに挑んだバイオ企業、UMNファーマの挫折は語り草だ。工場建設に100億円超を投じたが、認可申請は17年、既存ワクチンに比べて「臨床的意義に乏しい」との理由で退けられた。

UMNは債務超過に陥り、曲折の末に塩野義製薬の傘下に入っている。米国で認可済みのワクチンだっただけに、医薬品業界は「単に新しいワクチンを導入したくないだけではないか」（国内製薬会社）と不信を募らせた。

研究者と技術は海外に流出している。あるウイルス学者は「日本は規制が多い一方、支援体制が貧弱だ」と指摘する。危険なウイルスを扱える実験施設は国内に2カ所しかなく、ひとつは周辺住民の反対で最近まで稼働しなかった。

厚労省、農水省、文科省をまたぐ規制は複雑で、遺伝子組み換え実験は生態系への影響を防ぐ「カルタヘナ法」に縛られる。欧州は医薬品を同法の適用除外とし、米国は批准もしていない。

製薬会社は日本市場を迂回する。武田薬品工業が開発中のデング熱ワクチン、田辺三菱製薬のタバコ葉の植物由来ワクチンも国内承認への計画は未定のままだ。

政府は新型コロナで急きょワクチン担当大臣を置いたが、アンジェス、塩野義などが開発中の国産ワクチンは承認されるとしても22年以降の見通しだ。国家の危機管理という原点を見失って漂流した30年の代償は大きい。

問われる科学的理解

ワクチンはラテン語の「牛」が語源で、牛痘から死亡率がはるかに高い天然痘のワクチンが開発されたことに由来する。日本のワクチン開発の停滞は官だけの責任ではない。副作用のリスクを踏まえても予防接種のメリットが大きいという公衆衛生に対する理解がわたしたち国民を含めて社会全体で足りなかった。

2013年に定期接種になった子宮頸（けい）がんワクチンは接種率が1%未満にとどまる。投与後に慢性の痛みや運動機能の障害などが出るとして一部メディアで「薬害」と騒がれ、接種勧奨が中止されたためだ。

大規模調査でワクチンと痛みなどに因果関係は証明されなかったが、その後も接種率は改善していない。科学的根拠のない不確かな情報であっても「なんとなく打ちたくない」というムードが広がると挽回が難しい。がん患者を減らす効果が証明され、接種率90%を目指している世界のワクチン先進国とは対照的だ。

日本は予防接種法を改正し、義務接種を取りやめた。かつてのような学校での集団接種も見られなくなった。ワクチン接種は個人の判断に委ねられている。

厚労省は新型コロナワクチンの副作用の疑いを公表している。「科学とは信じることではなく理解すること」。18世紀末に天然痘ワクチンを開発したエドワード・ジェンナーの理念をかみしめ、国民一人ひとりが危機と向き合わなければならない。

Translation

(continue)

The frustration of UMN Pharma, a biotech company that attempted to tackle the flu vaccine with a new technology, was a legend. Although it invested more than 10 billion yen in the construction of the factory, the application for approval was rejected in 2017 because it was "of little clinical significance" than the existing vaccines.

UMN fell into insolvency and become a subsidiary of Shionogi after some twists and turns. Because it was a vaccine only approved in the United States, the pharmaceutical industry would " just don't want to introduce a new vaccine anymore" (domestic pharmaceutical company) as distrust grew stronger.

Researchers and technology drifted overseas. One virologist said, "while Japan has a lot of regulations, the support system is poor”. There were only two experimental facilities in the country that could handle dangerous viruses, and one of them did not operate until recently due to oppositions from the local residents.

Regulations across the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Education were complicated, and genetic recombination experiments were bound by the "Cartagena Law" that prevented impacts on the ecosystem. Europe had exempted drugs from this law, and the United States also did not ratify the law.

Pharmaceutical companies bypassed the Japanese market. A plan for domestic approval of the dengue vaccine under development by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and also the plant-derived vaccine from tobacco leaves owned by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma remained undecided.

The government had hurriedly appointed a minister to take charge of vaccines for the new Corona, but even if the domestic vaccine being developed by AnGes, Shionogi and others were approved, it was something expected to be beyond 2022. The price for losing sight of the origin of national crisis management and the 30-year drifting was great.

Questioning scientific understanding

“Vaccine” was a word derived from the Latin word "cow", vaccine was derived from the development of a smallpox which had a much higher mortality rate. The stagnation of vaccine development in Japan was not the sole responsibility of the government. On public health issue regarding the fact that the benefits of vaccination were great then the risk, the understanding by people of the whole society including us was not enough.

The cervical cancer vaccine, which was routinely inoculated in 2013, had an inoculation rate of less than 1%. This was because some media complained that chronic pain and impaired movement function would occur after administration, and the promotion on vaccination was subsequently discontinued.

A large-scale survey had not proved a causal relationship between the vaccine and pain, but the vaccination rate did not improve since then. There was also incorrect information that had no scientific basis, and as the mood of "I don't want to be jabbed somehow" spread, it would be difficult to turn the tide. This was in contrast to the world's advanced vaccine countries, which have proven effective in reducing cancer patients and were aiming for a 90% inoculation rate.

Japan amended the Immunization Law and canceled compulsory vaccination. Mass inoculations at schools like those used to be were no longer seen. Vaccination was left to the desire of an individual.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had announced suspicions of side effects of the new corona vaccine. "Science is not about believing but understanding." Each and every citizen had to face the crisis with the thinking of Edward Jenner, who developed the smallpox vaccine at the end of the 18th century.

              So, Japan has its own historical problems in dealing with public vaccination. In dealing with the Covid-19, its vaccination rate is far behind many advanced countries. One reason for that is the slow vaccine supply from overseas. Investigation into the scenes behind this "vaccine lost battle" reveals a blank 30-year of inaction by the Japanese government. I am wondering if Japan will review its vaccine policy in view of the current pandemic.

Inevitable vaccine lost battle - 30 years of inaction, remove people’s ladder (1 of 2)

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

必然だったワクチン敗戦　不作為30年、民のはしご外す (1 of 2)

2021年5月9日 5:30 [有料会員限定]

新型コロナウイルスのワクチン開発で日本は米英中ロばかりか、ベトナムやインドにさえ後れを取っている。菅義偉首相が4月、米製薬大手ファイザーのトップに直々に掛け合って必要なワクチンを確保したほどだ。「ワクチン敗戦」の舞台裏をさぐると、副作用問題をめぐる国民の不信をぬぐえず、官の不作為に閉ざされた空白の30年が浮かび上がる。

世界がワクチンの奪い合いの様相を強める中で、国産ワクチンはひとつも承認されていない。ところが、厚生労働省で医薬品業務にかかわる担当者は「米国や欧州ほどの感染爆発は起きていない。何がいけないのか」と開き直る。「海外である程度使われてから日本に導入したほうが安全性と有効性を見極められる」

1980年代まで水痘、日本脳炎、百日ぜきといった日本のワクチン技術は高く、米国などに技術供与していた。新しいワクチンや技術の開発がほぼ途絶えるまで衰退したのは、予防接種の副作用訴訟で92年、東京高裁が国に賠償を命じる判決を出してからだ。

このとき「被害者救済に広く道を開いた画期的な判決」との世論が広がり、国は上告を断念した。94年に予防接種法が改正されて接種は「努力義務」となり、副作用を恐れる保護者の判断などで接種率はみるみる下がっていった。

さらに薬害エイズ事件が影を落とす。ワクチンと同じ「生物製剤」である血液製剤をめぐり事件当時の厚生省生物製剤課長が96年に逮捕され、業務上過失致死罪で有罪判決を受けた。責任追及は当然だったが、同省内部では「何かあったら我々が詰め腹を切らされ、政治家は責任を取らない」（元職員）と不作為の口実にされた。

いまや欧米で開発されたワクチンを数年から10年以上も遅れて国内承認する「ワクチン・ギャップ」が常態となった。国内で高齢者への接種が始まったファイザーのワクチンは厚労相が「特例承認」したものだが、これは海外ワクチンにだけ適用される手続きだ。

日本ワクチンが歩みを止めている間、米国は01年の炭疽（たんそ）菌事件を契機に公衆衛生危機への対応を進化させている。有事には保健福祉省（HHS）が中核となって関係省庁が一枚岩となり、製薬会社や研究機関と連携。ワクチン開発資金の支援や臨床試験（治験）、緊急使用許可といった政策の歯車が勢いよく回る。

世界のワクチン市場の成長率は年7%近い。致死率の高い中東呼吸器症候群（MERS）、エボラ出血熱などに襲われるたびに新しいワクチンが編み出された。新型コロナで脚光を浴びた「メッセンジャーRNA（mRNA）」の遺伝子技術もワクチンへの応用研究は20年越しで進められていた。

ワクチンは感染が広がらなければ需要がなく、民間企業だけでは手がけにくい。しかし日本では開発支援や買い取り、備蓄の機運は乏しい。北里大学の中山哲夫特任教授は「ワクチン・ギャップが生じるのはポリシー・ギャップがあるからだ」と政策の停滞を嘆く。

(to be continued)

Translation

Japan lagged behind not only the United States, Britain, China and Russia, but also Vietnam and India in developing a vaccine for the new coronavirus. In April, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga directly contacted the top people of Pfizer, a major US pharmaceutical company, to secure the necessary vaccines. When investigating the scenes behind the "vaccine lost battle", it revealed the inability to remove the public's distrust over the side effect problem, and a blank 30-year shutting up due to the inaction of the government.

As the world intensified the competition for vaccines, no Japanese vaccine had been approved yet. However, a person in charge of pharmaceuticals at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare became defiant, saying that "the infection explosion has not occurred as serious as in the United States and Europe. What’s wrong?" " To introduce it to Japan after it has been used to some extent overseas could determine its safety and effectiveness."

Until the 1980s, Japanese vaccine technology level in areas such as chickenpox, Japanese encephalitis, and whooping cough was high, and technologies were provided to the United States and other countries. The development of new vaccines and technologies declined to the point of almost zero after the Tokyo High Court issued a ruling in 1992 in which the government was ordered to compensate for the side effects of vaccination.

At this time, public opinion spread that it was an epoch-making decision that paved the way for victim relief. The country abandoned an appeal. The vaccination law was amended in 1994, and vaccination became an "obligation effort", and the vaccination rate dropped sharply due to the judgment of parents who feared of side effects.

Furthermore, the HIV-tainted blood scandal case also had casted a shadow. It was an incident over blood product, which was the same "biological product" as vaccine. The chief of the biologics section of the Ministry of Health and Welfare at that time was arrested in 1996, and was convicted of negligent fatalities in business. It was natural to take responsibility, but inside the ministry, it was used as an excuse (by former employees) for doing nothing, saying that "if something happened, we were relentlessly forced to bear responsibility and resign from our position while politicians did not take any responsibility" .

Right now, the "vaccine gap" in that vaccines developed in Europe and the United States were being approved in Japan with a delay from several years to over 10 years had become the norm. Pfizer's vaccine, which had begun to be given to the elderly in Japan, was "specially approved" by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, but this was a procedure that applicable only to overseas vaccines.

While the Japanese vaccine progress had stopped, the United States evolved its response to the public health crisis in the wake of the 2001 anthrax incident. In an emergency, its Ministry of Health and Human Services (HHS) would play a central role, and related ministries and agencies would share one spirit in collaborating with pharmaceutical companies and research institutes. Policy gears were spinning around such as funding support to vaccine development, clinical studies (clinical trials), and emergency use authorization.

The growth rate of the global vaccine market was near 7% per year. A new vaccine would be developed every time when we were struck by cases that had high fatality rate such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Ebola. The genetic technology of "messenger RNA (mRNA)", which was now in the limelight with the new corona virus, had its application research in vaccine being carried out for more than 20 years.

Vaccine would not be in demand unless the infection spread, and it would be difficult for private companies to handle it alone. Yet, in Japan, there was little momentum for vaccine developmental support, purchase, and stockpiling. Tetsuo Nakayama (中山哲夫), a specially appointed professor at Kitasato University (北里大学) lamented the stagnation of policy, saying that "the vaccine gap occurs because of a policy gap."

(to be continued)

中國Covid疫苗：國藥疫苗獲得世界衛生組織批准

Recently Yahoo New on-line reported the following:

Chinese Covid vaccine: Sinopharm gets WHO approval

BBC Fri., May 7, 2021, 8:52 a.m.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency approval for the Covid vaccine made by Chinese firm Sinopharm.

It is the first vaccine developed in a non-Western country to get WHO backing.

China has already vaccinated millions of people at home and in 45 other countries.

Until now, the WHO had only approved the vaccines made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna.

However, individual health regulators in various countries - especially poorer ones in Africa, Latin America and Asia - have already approved the Chinese jabs for emergency use.

With little data released internationally early on, the effectiveness of the various Chinese vaccines has long been uncertain.

Brazilian trials of another vaccine, Sinovac, for instance, showed an efficacy rate of around 50.4%, which is barely over the 50% threshold needed for approval by the WHO.

Other trials in Turkey and Indonesia have indicated a higher efficacy rate though.

Why does WHO backing matter?

The green light from the global health body is a guideline for national regulators that a vaccine is safe and effective.

It also means that the vaccine can be used in the global Covax programme, which aims to provide about two billion vaccines to developing countries.

The decision to list the Chinese vaccine for emergency use would give a substantial boost to Covax, which is currently crippled by supply shortages, mostly caused by India halting the export of vaccines.

It has only been able to deliver about 50 million doses so far.

The vaccine made by Sinovac, called CoronaVac, has only been fully authorised for use by China, but the government has already shipped millions of doses to a number of countries, which have permitted its emergency usage.

In Asia, the biggest recipients of the vaccine are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan, while in the Americas, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador have ordered millions of the jabs.

In Europe, Turkey and Ukraine have signed large contracts for Sinovac.

The vaccine is also thought to be particularly important for African countries, where so far Zimbabwe, Somalia, Djibouti, Benin and Tunisia have received vaccines from China.

One of the Chinese vaccines' main advantages is that they can be stored in a standard refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius, like the AztraZeneca vaccine.

How do the Chinese shots work?

The two Chinese vaccines differ significantly from some of the other Covid vaccines currently in use, especially those by Pfizer and Moderna.

Developed in a more traditional way, they are so-called inactivated vaccines, which means they use killed viral particles to expose the immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response.

By comparison, the BioNtech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are mRNA vaccines. This means part of the coronavirus' genetic code is injected into the body, training the immune system how to respond to it.

The UK's AstraZeneca vaccine is yet another type of vaccine where a version of a common cold virus from chimpanzees is modified to contain genetic material shared by the coronavirus. Once injected, it teaches the immune system how to fight the real virus.

BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna have an efficacy rate of around 90% or higher, while the AstraZeneca jab is thought to be around 76%.

In April, China's top disease control official said the efficacy of the country's Covid vaccines was low, although he later insisted his comments had been misinterpreted.

Translation

世界衛生組織（WHO）已緊急批准了由中國國藥集團 (Sinopharm) 生產的Covid疫苗。

它是在非西方國家開發的首個獲得世衛組織支持的疫苗。

中國已經在國內和其他45個國家/地區為數百萬人接種了疫苗。

迄今為止，世界衛生組織僅批准了輝瑞，阿斯利康，強生和莫德納公司生產的疫苗。

但是，各個國家（尤其是非洲，拉丁美洲和亞洲較貧窮的國家）的個人衛生監管機構已經批准將中國針葯用於緊急用途。

由於在以前國際上很少公佈任何數據，因此各種中國疫苗的有效性一直不確定。

例如，巴西對另一種中國疫苗Sinovac的試驗顯示，其有效率為50.4％左右，僅略高於WHO批准所需的50％門檻。

但在土耳其和印度尼西亞的其他試驗, 則表明其有較高的療效。

為什麼世衛組織的支持很重要？

全球衛生機構的綠燈為國家監管機構提供了疫苗的安全及效能作出指引。

這也意味著該疫苗可用於全球Covax計劃，該計劃旨在為發展中國家提供約20億劑疫苗。

將中國疫苗列為緊急用途的決定, 將大大促進Covax的發展，目前由於供應短缺而使Covax癱瘓，主要原因是印度停止了疫苗出口。

到目前為止，它只能輸送約5000萬劑。

Sinovac公司生產的名為CoronaVac的疫苗僅在中國獲得的完全授權使用。但中國政府已向數個國家運送了數百萬劑疫苗，這些國家允許其緊急使用。

在亞洲，最大的疫苗接收者是印度尼西亞，馬來西亞，菲律賓，泰國和巴基斯坦。而在美洲，巴西，墨西哥，智利，哥倫比亞和厄瓜多爾訂購了數以百萬計的針藥。

在歐洲，土耳其和烏克蘭已與Sinovac簽訂了大型合同。

人們還認為該疫苗對非洲國家特別重要，到目前為止，津巴布韋，索馬里，吉布提，貝寧和突尼斯已經從中國接收了疫苗。

中國疫苗的主要優勢之一是，與AztraZeneca疫苗一樣，它們可以存儲在2-8攝氏度的標準冰箱中。

中國藥針接種如何運作？

這兩種中國疫苗與目前正在使用的其他Covid疫苗有顯著差異，尤其是輝瑞 (BioNtech/Pfizer) 和莫德納 (Moderna) 生產的那些。

中國疫苗以更傳統的方式開發，即所謂的滅活疫苗。這意味著它們使用殺滅的病毒顆粒將免疫系統暴露於病毒，而不會冒嚴重的疾病反應的風險。

相比之下，輝瑞和莫德納疫苗是mRNA疫苗。這意味著冠狀病毒的部分遺傳密碼被注入人體，訓練免疫系統如何對其作出反應。

英國的阿斯利康疫苗是另一種疫苗，它是對黑猩猩的一種普通感冒病毒進行了修改，使其含有冠狀病毒共有的遺傳物質。一旦注射，它就會教免疫系統如何抵抗真正的病毒。

輝瑞和莫德納的有效率約為90％或更高，而阿斯利康的針藥效率則約為76％。

今年4月，中國最高疾病控制官員表示，中國的Covid疫苗的功效較低，儘管他後來堅持認為他的評論是被誤解了。

              So, the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency approval to the Covid vaccine made by Chinese firm Sinopharm. This will give the vaccine an official status globally.

Public and private to research on quantum technology – a council with 50 companies including government and Toyota

Recently Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

量子技術を官民で研究　政府、トヨタなど50社と協議会

政治

2021年5月5日 2:00 (2021年5月5日 5:30更新) [有料会員限定]

日本が強みを持つ量子通信・暗号技術は安全保障の優位性にも直結する（量子コンピューター向けに設置された希釈冷凍機）

政府は産業界と組み、情報処理や通信に使う量子技術の共同研究に乗り出す。5月中にもトヨタ自動車や東芝、NECなど50社ほどが参加する協議会を立ち上げる。国家主導で大規模な投資を進める米国や中国が世界で先行する。日本が強みを持つ量子通信・暗号技術は安全保障の優位性にも直結するため、官民挙げて実用化を急ぐ。

量子技術は特殊な物理法則である量子力学を高速計算や通信に利用するものだ。コンピューターの処理能力を飛躍的に向上させられる。

安保上の重要性は高く、米中など各国が力を注いでいる。通信・暗号の安全性の確保や情報収集・分析の能力に大きく関わる。素材など先端技術の開発能力も左右する。

日本は特に量子通信・暗号の研究で一定の影響力を持つ。この分野のハードウエア関連の特許件数は東芝が世界首位で、NECやNTTも上位につける。情報を盗み見できず安全性の高い「量子インターネット」を構成する要素になる。

協議会は富士通や日立製作所、NTTグループなども加わる見通しだ。2022年中に法人にする計画や、ファンド（基金）をつくって投資活動に携わる案もある。

日本は一部の研究で優位に立つ一方で、実際のインフラ整備を目指す動きは中国が先んじる。中国は北京と上海の間に2千キロメートルに及ぶ量子暗号の通信網をすでに構築している。

協議会には国内勢の知見を組み合わせて実用化につなげる狙いがある。他社と協力して技術を新たな商品やサービスに応用する契機になる。政府にとっても情報を集約できれば国家戦略を立てやすくなる。専門性の高い人材の裾野を広げる役割も担う。

官民連携には企業の期待も大きい。富士通で量子コンピューター開発の責任者を務める佐藤信太郎氏は「一企業で網羅的に取り組むのは困難だ」と指摘する。「どの点と限定することなく、広く産官学と連携したい」と強調する。

日立製作所は「量子技術は中長期視野での研究投資が必要になる」と分析する。NECは「同業者との議論が多く、分野の異なる専門家との議論はあまり機会がない」と回答した。

協議会は複数の専門部会を設ける。分野ごとに基礎研究の蓄積を融合させ、開発を深める。

量子技術を使った高速計算の活用にも期待がある。物質同士の組み合わせに関する情報処理が速くなるため、新しい薬や素材の開発の効率が高まると見込む。新たな産業の創出に役立てられるとの構想を描く。

官民は協議会を通じ、国産の量子コンピューターの開発を急ぐ。高度な人工知能（AI）や新しい金融商品づくりなどに応用できる。

ゲノムも短い時間で解析できるようになり、生体データの蓄積が進む。医療分野の技術開発に直結する。より効率的な物流・交通網を探る研究にも取り組む。

海外では政府と産業界が組んで量子技術に関するファンドを作る事例が相次ぐ。米政府は20年に6億ドル程度を投じて複数の国立研究所に量子技術の研究拠点を設ける構想を打ち出した。

日本政府は20年に量子技術に関する戦略をまとめ、開発を後押しする方針を示した。

量子コンピューター技術に強い米国との連携も視野に入れる。経済安保の観点から中国の技術的な台頭に対抗する。

4月16日の菅義偉首相とバイデン米大統領の首脳会談でも量子技術について意見交換した。共同声明で「量子科学の研究や技術開発で競争力を強化するため連携する」と明記した。

加藤勝信官房長官は記者会見で「量子技術は産業政策の観点からも戦略的に対応すべき分野だ」と言及した。「産学官が一体となって量子技術を用いた新たな産業を創出していきたい」とも語った。

Translation 

Quantum communication and cryptography, which Japan had strengths in, were directly linked to security advantages (dilution refrigerator installed for quantum computers).

The government would collaborate with the industry world to embark on a joint research on quantum technologies used for information processing and communications. Also in May, a council would be set up in which about 50 companies such as Toyota, Toshiba and NEC would participate. The United States and China, which were making large-scale investments led by the state, were ahead of the rest of the world. As quantum communication and cryptography, which Japan had strengths in, were directly linked to the superiority of security, the public and private sectors were rushing to put them into practical use.

Quantum technology used quantum mechanics, which was a special physical law, for high-speed calculations and communications. The processing power of the computer could be dramatically improved.

The importance of security was high, and individual country such as the United States and China were focusing on it. It was greatly related to ensuring the security of communication and encryption; and also the ability to collect and analyze information. It also affected the ability to develop advanced technologies in making materials etc. 

Japan, especially in quantum communication and cryptography research had some influence. Toshiba had the highest number of hardware-related patents in this field in the world, and NEC and NTT also ranked high. It was an element that constituted a highly secure "quantum Internet" so that information could not be stolen.

This council was expected to include Fujitsu, Hitachi, and NTT Group. There were also plans to make it a corporation by the end of 2022, and to create a fund to engage in investment activities.

While Japan had an advantage in some research, China was ahead in a move towards its actual infrastructure development. China had already built a 2,000-kilometer quantum cryptography network between Beijing and Shanghai.

The council aimed to combine the knowledge of domestic forces to put it into practical use. It could be an opportunity to apply the technology to new products and services in cooperation with other companies. If information could be aggregated for the government, it would be easier to formulate a national strategy. It also played a role in expanding the base of the highly specialized human resources.

Companies had high expectations for public-private partnerships. Shintaro Sato, who was in charge of the quantum computer development at Fujitsu, pointed out that "it is difficult for a single company to work exhaustively." He emphasized that "I want to collaborate widely with the industry, government, and academia without restriction in any point."

Hitachi analyzed that "quantum technology requires research investment from a medium- to long-term perspective." NEC replied that "There are many discussions with peers, and there are not many opportunities for discussions with experts in different fields."

The council would have multiple specialized subcommittees. A collection based on research done in each field would be fused together, and development would be deepened.

There were also expectations for the practical application of high-speed calculations that would make use of quantum technology. It was expected that the efficiency of developing new drugs and materials could increase because information processing regarding the combination of substances would be faster.  A concept was sketched out that it might be useful for creating new industries.

The public and private sectors would accelerate the development of domestic quantum computers through this council. Their applications would include advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and the creation of new financial products.

The genome could be analyzed in a short time, and the accumulation of biological data would progress.  It might directly link to the technological development in the medical field. It could also work on a research to find more efficient logistics and transportation networks.

Overseas, there were a number of cases in which the government and industry had teamed up to create a fund related to quantum technology. The US government in 2020 announced a plan to invest about 600 million dollars to set up some research bases for quantum technology in multiple national laboratories.

In 2020, the Japanese government put together a strategy for quantum technology and announced a policy to support its development.

Cooperation with the United States that was strong in quantum computer technology would be considered. China's technological rise would be competed from an economic security perspective.

At the summit meeting between Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and US President Joe Biden on April 16, views on quantum technology were exchanged. The joint statement stated that "we will work together to strengthen our competitiveness in quantum science research and technological development."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference that "quantum technology is a field that should be strategically addressed from the perspective of industrial policy." He also said, "I hope that industry, academia and government can work together to create a new industry using quantum technology."

              So, Japan will cooperate with the United States in quantum technology development. China's technological rise would be competed by the US and Japan.

香港交易所 - 押注放寬上市規則指望新股流入發行

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Hong Kong Bourse Bets on New IPO Inflow from Eased Listing Rules

John Cheng and Kiuyan Wong

Bloomberg Thu., April 29, 2021, 6:39 p.m.

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong is counting on a fresh inflow of overseas firms selling shares in the financial hub as it proposes to ease its listing rules.

The exchange is seeking to lure more firms, in particularly those from mainland China amid tension over their ability to trade on U.S. exchanges. It has proposed expanding listing rules to include secondary listings to all companies as long as they have one vote per share. Currently, only innovative and high growth dual-class share firms are eligible for secondary listings in Hong Kong. It also wants to lower the minimum market capitalization for secondary listings.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. has estimated about 18 Chinese companies currently listed elsewhere could take advantage of the new rules. “Through these changes, HKEX will become more welcoming and accommodating to overseas potential issuers,” Christina Bao, head of global issuer services, said in an interview with Bloomberg on Thursday.

Even so, it faces formidable competition from the U.S., whose depth of capital has long been a potent lure for Chinese companies. Despite tensions and U.S. sanctions being imposed, Chinese firms are listing in the U.S. at the fastest pace ever.

Bao, however, said Hong Kong offers advantages, and those that have chosen to sell shares in the city this year have a larger average float size than those which opted for the U.S. “If issuers are seeking a wide recognition from both mainland China and the rest of the world, Hong Kong is the place,” she said.

The exchange this week reported record quarterly earnings in the first three months of the year driven by a boom in listings. Funds raised in initial public offerings jumped ninefold in the period. Big name Chinese companies such as streaming platform Bilibili Inc. and search giant Baidu Inc. sold shares.

The new rules are the next step after the exchange operator in 2018 introduced major reforms to allow companies with weighted voting rights and pre-revenue biotech firms to list in Hong Kong. That brought tech giants such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Meituan and Xiaomi Corp. to the city and made it the world’s second largest biotech fundraising hub.

Since the new rules were introduced, 146 new economy companies have listed in Hong Kong, accounting for 61% of the IPO funds raised, according to HKEX’s data. Among them were 31 pre-revenue biotech companies and 13 secondary listings.

These companies made up 95% of funds raised in the first quarter of this year, Bao said.

The consultation period on the new proposal runs until May 31.

Translation

（彭博社）- 香港放寬其上市規則，指望新的海外公司的流入, 在香港金融中心出售股票。

該交易所尋求吸引更多的公司，特別是來自中國大陸的公司，因為它們在美國交易所交易的能力有懸念。它提議擴大上市規則，包括對所有公司的第二次上市，只要它們每股擁有一票即可。目前，只有創新和高增長的雙股股票公司才有資格在香港二次上市。它還希望降低二級上市的最低市值。

香港交易及結算所有限公司估計，目前在其他地方上市的約18家中國公司可以利用新規定。交易所全球發行部主管Christina Bao週四在接受彭博社採訪時表示： “通過這些變化，香港交易所將變得更加受歡迎和適應海外潛在發行人。”

即便如此，交易所仍面臨來自美國的強大競爭，長期以來，其資本深度一直吸引著中國公司。儘管出現了緊張局勢和美國施加了製裁，但中國公司仍以有史以來最快的速度在美國上市。

Christina Bao說，香港具有優勢，而那些選擇今年在香港出售股票的公司的平均流通量要比選擇美國的要大 。” 又她說: “如果發行人正要在尋求由中國大陸和世界其他地區的廣泛認可，香港就是這個地方。”

該交易所本週報告了在上市旺盛的推動下，今年前三個月的季度收益創歷史新高。在此期間，首次公開募股籌集的資金猛增了九倍。流媒體平台Bilibili Inc.和搜索巨頭Baidu Inc.等著名的中國公司出售了股票。

新規則是繼交易所運營商在2018年進行重大改革之後的下一步，當時允許具有加權投票權的公司和營收前的生物技術公司在香港上市。因為這樣，阿里巴巴集團控股有限公司，美團和小米公司等科技巨頭來到了這座城市，並使其成為全球第二大生物技術籌資中心。

根據香港交易所的數據，自引入新規定以來，已有146家新經濟公司在香港上市，佔新募集資金的61％。其中有31家營收前的生物技術公司和13家二次上市公司。

Christina Bao說，這些公司佔今年第一季度募集資金的95％。

新提案的諮詢期至5月31日。

 So, Hong Kong is counting on a fresh inflow of overseas companies to sell shares in this financial hub by proposing a relaxation in its listing rules so as to lure more Chinese companies. Hong Kong becomes a window for China to attract international investment.

Does the vaccine work against mutant viruses?

Recently NHK News on-line reported the following:

変異ウイルスにワクチンは効くの？

2021年5月12日 16時12分

国内で接種が進む新型コロナのワクチンは変異ウイルスにどこまで有効なのか。

横浜市立大学の研究グループがワクチンを2回接種した100人余りについて分析したところ、およそ9割の人は変異株に対して効果が期待できる抗体が体内に作られていたという研究結果をまとめました。

新型コロナウイルスは次々と変異を繰り返し、ワクチンが効きにくくなる可能性が指摘されている変異ウイルスも出てきています。

このため、横浜市立大学の研究グループは、国内で接種されているワクチン（ファイザー製）が変異ウイルスにどこまで有効なのかを調べる研究を実施しました。

ことし3月から4月にかけてワクチンを2回接種した医療従事者105人を対象に、血液を採取して、変異ウイルスへの感染を防ぐ働きのある「中和抗体」が、どこまで作られているかを調べました。

分析の結果、全体の89％の人はイギリスや南アフリカ、それにブラジルなどで合わせて合わせて7つの変異ウイルスすべてについて、効果が期待できる量の中和抗体が、体内に作られていたことがわかりました。

1回目2割未満の変異株も→2回接種で9割以上の効果に

変異ウイルス別に見るとイギリス株は94％、南アフリカ株は90％、ブラジル株は94％、インド株は97％、カリフォルニア株は97％、ニューヨーク株は98％、東京などで見つかったE484Kという変異のある由来不明株は97％の人に効果が期待できる量の中和抗体が確認されたということです。

従来株は99％の人で確認されました。

一方で、1回目の接種後では、イギリス株は18％、南アフリカ株は21％、ブラジル株は16％、インド株は37％、カリフォルニア株は39％、ニューヨーク株は55％、由来不明株は34％の人にとどまったということです。

従来株は57％でした。

研究グループのメンバーで横浜市立大学医学部の山中竹春教授は「ワクチンは2回接種すれば現在出てきている変異ウイルスに対しても中和抗体による免疫を期待できる結果となった。ただ、全員に中和抗体ができるわけではなく、個人差もある。今後さらに対象者を広げてデータを蓄積していきたい」と話しています。

Translation

How effective was the new corona vaccine inoculated in Japan against mutant viruses?

When a research group at Yokohama City University summarized the research results by analyzing about 100 people who received the vaccine twice, about 90% of the people had produced the body antibodies that could be expected to be effective against mutant strains.

As the new coronavirus was repeating mutation continuously, it had been pointed out that some mutant viruses could make the vaccine less effective.

For this reason, a research group at Yokohama City University conducted a study to find out how effective the inoculated vaccine (manufactured by Pfizer) was against mutant viruses in Japan.

From March to April this year, blood was collected from 105 healthcare workers who received the vaccine twice to check to what extent "neutralizing antibodies" had been made to prevent infection from mutant viruses.

As a result of the analysis, it was found that 89% of the total people had neutralizing antibodies in the body in a quantity that could be expected to be effective for mutant viruses from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, etc. up to seven kinds in total.

From less than 20% effective for mutant strains after the first inoculation → to more than 90% effective after the second inoculation

Effectiveness by mutant virus, 94% for British strains, 90% for South African strains, 94% for Brazilian strains, 97% for Indian strains, 97% for California strains, 98% for New York strains. For the strains of unknown origin called E484K found in Tokyo etc., it was confirmed to have an amount of neutralizing antibody that could expect to be effective in 97% of the people.

For traditional strains, 99% of people were confirmed.

On the other hand, after the first inoculation, effectiveness was 18% for British strains, 21% for South African strains, 16% for Brazilian strains, 37% for Indian strains, 39% for California strains, 55% for New York strains, and for the unknown strains it was only 34% of the people.

For the conventional strain it was 57%.

Professor Takeharu Yamanaka (山中竹春) of Yokohama City University School of Medicine (横浜市立大学医学部) who was a member of this research group said, "If you inoculate the vaccine twice, you can expect immunity with neutralizing antibodies against the mutant virus that is currently appearing. It is not possible to produce neutralizing antibodies in everyone, and there are individual differences. In the future we would like to further expand the target audience and accumulate data. "

So, the purpose of this study is to check for the extent of "neutralizing antibodies” produced by the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer in preventing infection from mutant viruses. The data collected so far show that Pfizer vaccine is effective. Although the scale of this study is very small, still it is good news in encouraging people to choose the Covid-19 made by Pfizer. It is obvious that not all vaccines are born equal.

中國企業在美國上市的步伐創歷史新高

Recently Yahoo News on-line reported the following:

Chinese Firms Are Listing in the U.S. at a Record-Breaking Pace

Julia Fioretti and John Cheng

Bloomberg Sat., April 24, 2021, 2:00 p.m.

(Bloomberg) -- Chinese companies are listing in the U.S. at the fastest pace ever, brushing off tensions between the world’s two biggest economies and the continued risk of being kicked off American exchanges.

Firms from the mainland and Hong Kong have raised $6.6 billion through initial public offerings in the U.S. this year, a record start to a year and an eightfold increase from the same period in 2020, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The largest IPO is the $1.6 billion listing of e-cigarette maker RLX Technology Inc., followed by the $947 million offering of software company Tuya Inc.

That’s even as Sino-U.S. tensions show few signs of easing and the threat of Chinese firms being delisted from U.S. exchanges remains. In fact, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said last month it would begin implementing a law forcing accounting firms to let U.S. regulators review the financial audits of overseas companies. Non-compliance could result in a delisting from the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq.

The risk for mainland firms is high given China has long refused to let U.S. regulators examine audits of its overseas-listed companies on national security concerns.

“They would acknowledge this is a potential risk, and if something happens they might need to get prepared for a rainy day,” said Stephanie Tang, head of private equity for Greater China at law firm Hogan Lovells. “But the risk itself would not prohibit those companies from going to the U.S., at least in the second half of this year or probably toward next year.”

Despite all the risks, the pipeline continues to grow, setting up 2021 to potentially exceed last year. Chinese firms raised almost $15 billion through U.S. IPOs in 2020, the second highest on record after 2014, when e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. fetched $25 billion in its float.

Didi Chuxing has filed confidentially for a multi-billion-dollar U.S. IPO that could value the Chinese ride-hailing giant at as much as $100 billion, Bloomberg News has reported. Uber-like trucking startup Full Truck Alliance is also working on a U.S. listing this year that could raise about $2 billion, people familiar with the matter said, requesting not to be named because the matter is private.

“Chinese companies in the new economy do not seem to have been deterred from seeking U.S. listings despite the ongoing tensions,” said Calvin Lai, a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. “They take that as one of the risks but that doesn’t tilt the pendulum.”

Additional share sales by Chinese companies have also been well-received in the U.S. this year, delivering an average return of 11% from their offering prices in the following session, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

And while rival financial centers like Hong Kong have in recent years changed their listing rules to make it easier for new economy firms to go public there, that has not stopped the flow of firms going stateside. In fact, the traffic now goes both ways, with U.S.-traded Chinese firms getting a second listing in Hong Kong to expand their investor base and as a hedge against the delisting risk.

Such secondary listings raised almost $17 billion last year and have fetched over $8 billion this year already, Bloomberg data show. Bankers said many companies go to the U.S. knowing they can subsequently list in Hong Kong.

For example, Didi is also exploring a potential dual offering in Hong Kong later, a person familiar with the matter has said, while Chinese electric carmaker Xpeng Inc. is also looking into a share sale in the financial hub less than a year after going public in New York.

U.S. capital markets have long attracted Chinese companies for a number of reasons: their greater liquidity, broader investor base, and the cachet associated with a U.S. listing. Technology and fintech firms have flocked to the U.S. because of its more streamlined process as well as greater openness to loss-making businesses.

“The U.S. still remains a magnet for the IPOs of Chinese technology companies,” Tang said. “Just in terms of the pipeline, I don’t see any pause to that. I think the pipeline is very strong.”

Translation

（彭博社）- 中國公司正在以有史以來最快的速度在美國上市，從而減退了世界上兩個最大經濟體之間的緊張關係, 以及被美國交易所拋棄的持續風險。

彭博彙編的數據顯示，今年以來，來自中國內地和香港的公司, 通過在美國的首次公開募股（IPO）籌集了66億美元，創下一年以來的新高，比2020年同期增長了八倍。最大的IPO是電子煙製造商RLX Technology Inc.的16億美元上市，其次是軟件公司Tuya Inc的9.47億美元發行。

即使中美之間的緊張關係幾乎沒有緩解的跡象，及中國公司從美國交易所退市的威脅依然存, 在美國的募股繼續。實際上，美國證券交易委員會上個月表示，它將開始實施一項法律，強制會計公司讓美國監管機構審查海外公司的財務審計。不遵守規定可能導致從紐約證券交易所或納斯達克除牌。

鑑於中國長期以國家安全為理由, 一直拒絕美國監管機構審查其在海外上市的公司對的擔憂，因此內地公司的風險很高。

Hogan Lovells律師事務所大中華區私募股權主管Stephanie Tang說： “他們承認這是潛在的風險，如果發生某些事情，他們可能需要為將來可能遇到的困難做好準備。” “但這種風險本身不會阻止這些公司至少在今年下半年或至到明年進入美國。”

儘管存在所有風險，因管道仍在繼續增長，使2021年將有可能超過去年。在 2020年，中國企業通過美國IPO籌集了近150億美元，是2014年之後的第二高紀錄。當時電商巨頭阿里巴巴集團控股有限公司（Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.）的流通量達到250億美元。

彭博新聞社報導，滴滴出行(Didi)已秘密提交了數十億美元的美國IPO申請，可能使這家中國網約車巨頭的估值高達1000億美元。因為此事是不公開的, 要求不透露姓名的知情人士說，類似Uber的卡車運輸初創公司Full Truck Alliance今年也在美國上市，籌資約20億美元。

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer合夥人Calvin Lai表示： “儘管經濟形勢持續緊張，但新經濟中的中國公司似乎並沒有受到阻撓。” “他們認為這是風險之一，但這不會使進程改變。”

彭博彙編的數據顯示，今年以來，中國公司在美國進行的額外股票銷售也受到了廣泛好評，其下一個交易日的發行價平均回報率為11％。

而且，儘管近年來像香港這樣的競爭對手的金融中心, 已經更改了上市規則，以使新經濟公司更容易在當地上市，但這並沒有阻止公司向美國境內的流動。實際上，交易是雙向的，在美國上市的中資公司, 有在香港第二次上市以擴大投資者基礎，並作為對沖可能要退市風險的工具。

 彭博數據顯示，此類二級上市去年籌集了近170億美元，今年已經籌集了超過80億美元。銀行家表示，許多公司前往美國，知道他們隨後可以在香港上市。

知情人士說，例如滴滴出行亦探索稍後將在香港進行可能的雙重發行，而中國電動汽車製造商小鵬汽車（Xpeng Inc.）在紐約在上市不到一年的時間, 也探索這在金融中心進行股票出售。

長期以來，美國資本市場吸引了中國公司，原因有很多：它們的流動性更高，投資者基礎更廣泛以及與在美國上市帶來的聲望。技術和金融科技公司之所以蜂擁而至，是因為其流程更加簡化，並且對虧損企業持開放態度。

Stephanie Tang說： “美國仍然吸引著中國科技公司的首次公開募股。” “就管道而言，我認為這沒有任何停止。我認為管道是非常強勁。”

              So, Chinese companies are listing in the U.S. at the fastest pace ever despite the political tensions between the two countries. U.S. capital markets have long attracted Chinese companies because of the markets’ greater liquidity, broader investor base, and the cachet associated with a U.S. listing. I think the trustworthiness of US markets in terms of transparency and law enforcement etc. are also factors that attract investment globally.