中國迅速介入，接替被特朗普取消的美國國際開發署亞洲援助計劃 (1/2)

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

China Swoops In to Replace Asian USAID Efforts Axed by Trump (1/2)

Bloomberg - Iain Marlow and Philip J. Heijmans

Wed, March 26, 2025 at 7:22 a.m. PDT·6 min read

(Bloomberg) -- The US canceled two aid projects in Cambodia in late February — one to encourage child literacy and another to improve nutrition and development for kids under five. A week later, China’s aid agency announced funding for programs to achieve almost identical goals.

“Children are the future of the country and the nation,” China’s ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said at the event, standing next to the country’s health minister and a UNICEF official. “We should care for the healthy growth of children together.”

While China’s announcement didn’t include a dollar figure, the Chinese money essentially funds the same types of initiatives and development goals as efforts terminated as part of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, according to two people with knowledge of the US projects, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

Both focused on “inclusive education” targeting the “most vulnerable children” and used a so-called nurturing care framework, according to news releases and procurement documents. They both provided school supplies, offering hand-washing materials and improving outcomes for “vulnerable” families and households, newborns and children with disabilities, according to the people.

The price tag for the US programs — $40 million — was small compared with the $27.7 billion in savings that the Trump administration said this week that it saved by axing thousands of aid contracts. But for Cambodia, whose national GDP is roughly equivalent to that Vermont, it was a big sum, and replacing lost foreign funds has been a priority.

The State Department, which oversees USAID and may now absorb the agency entirely, said in a statement that the US was funding aid programs that make Americans wealthier and more secure. At the same time, it said the US had achieved “significant progress” by investing in Cambodia’s development over the past 30 years, “partnering closely” with the government.

“Despite changes in the US approach to foreign assistance, we hope to see our relationship with Cambodia productively mature as we make America safer, stronger and more prosperous,” the department added in the statement.

The contracts were terminated on Feb. 26 after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping overhaul of US foreign assistance, which included dismantling the US Agency for International Development.

Although it’s only one example, it appears to confirm fears voiced by Democratic and some Republican lawmakers, aid advocates and former US officials: By slashing foreign aid, Trump is giving China an easy opportunity to fill a vacuum and gain a soft-power advantage in countries where the global adversaries compete for influence.

That’s especially urgent in Cambodia, where the US has spent roughly $1 billion since the 1990s. Washington has long waged an uphill battle with China in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia in particular. The Biden administration raised concerns about Chinese military influence at the country’s Ream Naval Base over the last four years.

But more recently, the US has moved to strengthen defense ties with the government in Phnom Penh, which granted an American warship access to Ream for the first time late last year.

(to be continued)

Translation

中國迅速介入，接替被特朗普取消的美國國際開發署亞洲援助計劃 (1/2)

(彭博)—美國於 2 月底取消了對柬埔寨的兩個援助項目，一個旨在提高兒童識字率，另一個旨在改善五歲以下兒童的營養和發育。一週後，中國援助機構宣佈為實現幾乎相同目標的項目提供資金。

中國駐柬埔寨大使 Wang Wenbin 在活動上與柬埔寨衛生部長和聯合國兒童基金會官員一起說道：“兒童是國家和民族的未來”; “我們應該共同關愛孩子們的健康成長。”

據兩位了解美國項目、未獲授權公開發言的人士透露，雖然中國在聲明中沒有提到具體金額，但這些中國資金實際上資助了與特朗普政府解散美國國際開發署 (USAID)後終止的項目相同類型的舉措和發展目標。

根據新聞稿和採購文件顯示，兩所學校均專注於針對 “最弱勢兒童” 的 “包容性教育” ，並採用所謂的培育護理框架。據知情人士透露，他們都提供了學習用品和洗手材料，並改善了「弱勢」家庭、新生兒和殘疾兒童的狀況。

美國這些項目的花費 - 4000萬美元 - 與特朗普政府本週表示透過取消數千份援助合約節省的277億美元相比微不足道。但對於國內生產毛額大致相當於佛蒙特州的柬埔寨來說，這是一筆巨款，彌補失去的外國資金一直是當務之急。

負責監管美國國際開發署的美國國務院現在可能完全吸收該機構，國務院在聲明中表示，美國正在資助援助項目去使美國人變得更富有、更安全。同時，它表示，美國過去 30 年來透過投資柬埔寨發展並與柬埔寨政府 “密切合作”，取得了“重大進展”。

該部門在聲明中補充說：“儘管美國的對外援助方式發生了變化，但我們希望看到與柬埔寨的關係富有成效地成熟，使美國變得更加安全、強大和繁榮。”

美國總統特朗普和顧問馬斯克對美國對外援助展開了全面改革，其中包括解散美國國際開發署，隨後這些合約於 2 月 26 日終止。

雖然這只是一個例子，但它似乎證實了民主黨和部分共和黨議員、援助倡導者和前美國官員的擔憂：透過削減外援，特朗普給了中國一個輕鬆填補真空的機會，並在全球對手爭奪影響力的國家中獲得軟實力優勢。

在柬埔寨尤其緊迫，自 1990 年代以來美國已在柬埔寨花費了大約 10 億美元。長期以來，華盛頓與中國在東南亞、尤其是在柬埔寨展開了艱苦的競爭。過去四年,拜登政府對中國在柬埔寨 Ream海軍基地的軍事影響表示擔憂。

但最近，美國已開始加強與金邊政府的國防關係，金邊政府去年底首次允許一艘美國軍艦進入Ream。

（待續）

貿易戰導致運輸路線改變，中國暫停進口美國液化天然氣

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

China Halts US LNG Imports as Trade War Reroutes Deliveries

Stephen Stapczynski

Mon, March 17, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PDT·4 min read

(Bloomberg) -- China hasn’t imported liquefied natural gas from the US for 40 days, the longest gap in almost two years, as traders are forced to divert shipments elsewhere to avoid Beijing’s tariffs on the super-chilled fuel.

The barren streak is the most extended since June 2023, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. There currently aren’t any US shipments en route to China either, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler, an analytics firm.

The trade war provoked by the Trump administration is threatening to decouple the world’s biggest LNG seller and buyer. Beijing slapped a 15% tariff on US LNG shipments from Feb. 10 in retaliation for blanket American levies on Chinese exports.

In response, Chinese gas buyers with long-term commitments to US projects are reselling those shipments to Europe, according to traders. Firms in China are also reluctant to sign new deals with US facilities, and are looking to procure supply from Asia-Pacific or the Middle East instead.

China Resources Gas International on Monday agreed to buy LNG from Australia’s Woodside Energy Group Ltd. from 2027 for 15 years. It’s the first term-supply deal involving Chinese and Australian companies in years, and follows improved ties between Canberra and Beijing after trade relations hit a nadir at the start of the decade.

China is also boosting its energy security by focusing on producing more gas at home, which will help to curb import growth. Output has been steadily rising, and notched a 3.7% year-on-year increase in the first two months of 2025. At the same time, cheaper alternatives, from coal to renewables to gas piped overland from Russia, are taking the edge off Chinese demand for seaborne gas.

The last trade war under the first Trump presidency brought US LNG sales to China to a halt. Since resuming in 2020, Chinese imports of American gas have risen dramatically to average over 400,000 tons a month.

In January, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said LNG should be used as leverage in a new round of trade negotiations. China isn’t among the countries playing ball, though, which bodes ill for US developers trying to secure contracts to kick-start new projects.

Translation

貿易戰導致運輸路線改變，中國暫停進口美國液化天然氣

(彭博社)—中國已經 40 天沒有從美國進口液化天然氣，這是近兩年來最長的中斷時間，因為貿易商被迫將貨物轉移到其他地方，以避免北京對這種超冷凍燃料徵收關稅。

根據彭博社彙編的船舶追蹤數據，此次的淡靜是自 2023 年 6 月以來持續時間最長的一次。根據分析公司 Kpler 的船舶追蹤數據，目前也沒有任何美國貨物運往中國。

特朗普政府挑起的貿易戰有可能使全球最大的液化天然氣賣家和買家脱鈎。北京自 2 月 10 日起對美國液化天然氣徵收 15% 的關稅，以報復美國對中國出口產品徵收的全面關稅。

貿易商稱，作為回應，對美國項目有長期承諾的中國天然氣買家正在將這些天然氣轉售給歐洲。中國企業也不願與美國工廠簽署新的協議，而是尋求從亞太地區或中東地區採購供應。

華潤燃氣國際週一同意自 2027 年起向澳洲 Woodside Energy Group有限公司購買為期 15 年的液化天然氣。這是多年來首份涉及中國和澳洲企業的定期供應協議，也是坎培拉和北京之間的關係在本十年初跌至谷底之後有所改善的結果。

中國也透過集中生產更多的國內天然氣來增強其能源安全，這將有助於抑制進口增加。產量一直在穩步上升，並在 2025 年前兩個月實現了同比增長 3.7%。同時，從煤炭到再生能源到俄羅斯陸路管道輸送的天然氣等更便宜的替代能源正在削弱中國對海運天然氣的需求。

特朗普總統上一次任期內的貿易戰導緻美國對中國的液化天然氣銷售陷入停滯。自2020年恢復以來，中國對美國天然氣的進口量急劇上升，平均每月進口量超過40萬噸。

今年 1 月，國務卿盧比奧 表示，液化天然氣應該成為新一輪貿易談判的籌碼。然而，中國並不在參與其中的國家之列，對試圖獲得合同以啟動新項目的美國開發商來說是個壞兆頭。

So, China hasn’t imported liquefied natural gas from the US for 40 days, the longest gap in almost two years, as traders are forced to divert shipments elsewhere to avoid Beijing’s tariffs on the super-chilled fuel. At the same time, cheaper alternatives from Russia are reducing China’s demand for seaborne gas. Apparently, China is reducing its reliance on the US.

特朗普大力打擊東南亞作為中國替代者的地位 (2/2)

 Recently The New York Times reported the following:

Trump Took a Wrecking Ball to Southeast Asia’s Role as an Alternative to China (2/2)

Punishing tariffs on Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and others in the region threaten their position as major manufacturing hubs for the American market.

By Alexandra Stevenson Reporting from Hong Kong

April 3, 2025

Updated 10:04 a.m. ET

(continue)

The United States is Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for more than 30 percent of its total exports, including consumer electronics, smartphones, garments and footwear and wood furniture. Around a third of U.S. footwear was made in the country last year, making it the largest exporter of shoes to the United States. Nike, the sportswear brand, produces about 50 percent of its footwear in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s prime minister, Pham Minh Chinh, held an emergency cabinet meeting with his top ministers on Thursday to discuss how to respond to the tariffs. Other government agencies convened to try to understand how the Trump administration tariffs were calculated and how they would be applied. Companies and business associations, many of which had anticipated a tariff of 10 percent, expressed hope that the government could still hold talks with the Trump administration to reduce the levy.

“I was horrified when I saw the tariff numbers on the chart,” said Hong Sun, chairman of a South Korean business association in Vietnam, whose members includes the consumer electronics companies Samsung and LG.

“We can only hope that the Vietnamese government can help us weather this tsunami,” he said.

In Thailand, the government emphasized that it was ready to negotiate and “engage in dialogue” with Washington. But it also encouraged companies to “seek new potential markets” in the face of the 36 percent tariffs levied on goods going to the United States, its biggest export market.

For American business owners such as Patrick Soong, who helps U.S. companies to design and make their products in the region, the tariffs on Thursday create uncertainty. His clients make everything from luggage to camera accessories to medical devices.

Mr. Soong and his company, Allitra, spent months looking for alternatives to China for his clients after Mr. Trump was re-elected last November. But on Thursday he was already making plans to move some production out of Thailand and Vietnam.

Mr. Soong planned to visit new factories in the Philippines with the idea of potentially moving some manufacturing there. Mr. Trump imposed new tariffs of 17 percent on the Philippines, less than half the duty he placed on Thailand and nearly a third lower than on Vietnam.

“I was planning on moving more product to Thailand," said Mr. Soong.

“I was looking at it as a next bet,” he said. “That has been disrupted.”

(Damien Cave and Tung Ngo contributed reporting from Ho Chi Minh City, and Muktita Suhartono and Sui-Lee Wee from Bangkok.)

Translation

特朗普大力打擊東南亞作為中國替代者的地位 (2/2)

對越南、柬埔寨、泰國和該地區其他國家徵收懲罰性關稅以威嚇它們作為美國市場主要製造中心的地位。

（繼續）

美國是越南最大的出口市場，佔其出口總額的30%以上，包括消費性電子產品、智慧型手機、服裝和鞋類以及木製家具。去年，美國約有三分之一的鞋類是在中國生產的，中國是美國最大的鞋類出口國。運動服飾品牌Nike約 50% 的鞋類產品在越南生產。

越南總理 Pham Minh Chinh 週四與各高級部長召開緊急內閣會議，討論如何應對關稅。其他政府機構召開會議，試圖了解特朗普政府的關稅是如何計算以及如何實施。許多企業和商業協會期望10%關稅，他們表示希望政府仍能與特朗普政府進行談判，以降低關稅。

越南一家韓國商業協會會長Hong Sun表示:「當我看到圖表上的關稅數字時，我感到震驚」，該協會的成員包括消費性電子公司三星和 LG。

他說:「我們只能希望越南政府能夠幫助我們渡過這場海嘯」。

在泰國，政府強調已準備好與華盛頓進行談判和「對話」。但面對中國對最大出口市場美國徵收 36% 關稅的威脅，中國政府也鼓勵企業「尋找新的潛在市場」。

對於像Patrick Soong這樣幫助美國公司在該地區設計和生產產品的美國企業擁有者來說，週四的關稅帶來了不確定性。他的客戶生產各種產品，從行李箱到相機配件到醫療設備。

去年 11 月特朗普再次當選後，Soong先生和他的公司 Allitra 花了數月時間為客戶尋找中國的替代方案。但周四他已開始製定計劃，將部分生產轉移出泰國和越南。

Soong 先生計劃參觀菲律賓的新工廠，以考慮將部分製造業轉移到那裡。特朗普對菲律賓徵收了 17% 的新關稅，不到對泰國徵收的關稅的一半，比對越南徵收的關稅低近三分之一。

Soong 先生說: 「我計劃將更多產品運往泰國」。

他說：“我把它看作是下一個賭注” ;“這已經被打亂了。”

So, for a long time, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand have worked to turn themselves into alternatives to China for factories making goods that eventually sold in the United States. That will be changed after President Trump imposes high tariffs at countries in Southeast Asia. This decision by Trump is a blow to American companies that depend on factories in the region. Apparently, price of imported goods in the US will increase and inflation in the country will go up. While the tariffs may induce some overseas factories to move to the US, I am wondering whether Trump fully knows its negative effect and impact on the US economically and on its global allies politically.

特朗普大力打擊東南亞作為中國替代者的地位 (1/2)

 Recently The New York Times reported the following:

Trump Took a Wrecking Ball to Southeast Asia’s Role as an Alternative to China (1/2)

Punishing tariffs on Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and others in the region threaten their position as major manufacturing hubs for the American market.

By Alexandra Stevenson Reporting from Hong Kong

April 3, 2025

Updated 10:04 a.m. ET

For years, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand have worked to turn themselves into alternatives to China for factories making the bags, electronics, shoes and auto parts that eventually end up in the United States.

That is now poised to change after President Trump on Wednesday aimed his most punishing tariffs at countries in Southeast Asia.

The news came as a hammer blow to American companies that have come to depend on factories in the region amid growing U.S.-China trade tensions. Some were asking: Where to now?

“This is much worse than what most of us had anticipated,” said Sonal Varma, chief economist for Asia excluding Japan at Nomura, the Japanese bank.

There were no illusions that any one country in Southeast Asia would be spared, but the size of the tariffs was a shock, as many of these countries are trade partners and allies with the United States.

Singapore, a close partner of the United States, said it was disappointed by the imposition of 10 percent tariffs despite a free-trade agreement with the United States and said that it would engage with the United States to understand how it calculated the tariffs.

Vietnam and Cambodia were singled out with new tariffs of 46 percent and 49 percent — among the steepest meted out to any country in the world, not accounting for earlier tariffs on specific sectors and countries such as China. In Thailand and Indonesia, the tariffs were high too, at 36 percent and 32 percent.

Mr. Trump had not previously given much air to concerns about the region, unlike his lengthy tirades against countries like China and Mexico, said Priyanka Kishore, an economist in Singapore and the founder of Asia Decoded, a consulting firm. “And then bam, Southeast Asia gets hit really hard,” she said.

The tariffs on Vietnam were especially harsh and could have long lasting effects on global trade because of how important the country has become as a substitute to manufacturing in China. “I’m still wrapping my head around it,” said Ms. Kishore.

Together with Mexico, Vietnam has been the biggest beneficiary of shifting global supply chains in recent years, as companies moved their factories out of neighboring China because of rising costs and growing tensions between the U.S. and China. The boom sent Vietnam’s trade surplus with the United States ballooning to $123.5 billion in 2024, the third highest after China and Mexico.

Initially, much of that trade was from companies rerouting products from China into Vietnam before exporting them to the United States. But in recent years, more of that trade has been driven by products made in Vietnam, as companies built new factories in the country and tried to replicate much of the China supply chain.

(to be continued)

Translation

特朗普大力打擊東南亞作為中國替代者的地位 (1/2)

對越南、柬埔寨、泰國和該地區其他國家徵收懲罰性關稅以威嚇它們作為美國市場主要製造中心的地位。

多年來，越南、柬埔寨和泰國等國家一直致力於將自己打造成中國的替代國家，生產物品容器、電子產品、鞋子和汽車零件，這些產品最終銷往美國。

特朗普總統週三對東南亞國家徵收最嚴厲的關稅後，這種情況即將改變。

在中美貿易緊張局勢加劇之際，這一消息對依賴該地區工廠的美國公司來說是一個沉重的打擊。有人問：接下來去哪裡？

日本野村證券（Nomura）日本以外亞洲地區首席經濟學家 Sonal Varma 表示： “這比我們大多數人預期的要糟糕得多。”

沒有人幻想東南亞任何一個國家能倖免，但關稅的規模令人震驚，因為其中許多國家都是美國的貿易夥伴和盟友。

美國的親密合作夥伴新加坡表示，儘管與美國簽訂了自由貿易協定，但新加坡對美國仍徵收 10% 的關稅感到失望，並表示將與美國接觸，了解如何計算關稅。

越南和柬埔寨被單獨列為被徵收 46% 和 49% 的新關稅的國家，這是全球被徵收最高額度的關稅之一，不包括先前對特定行業和中國等國家徵收的關稅。泰國和印尼的關稅也很高，分別為36%和32%。

新加坡經濟學家、顧問公司 Asia Decoded 的創辦人 Priyanka Kishore 表示，與針對中國和墨西哥等國的長篇大論不同，特朗普此前並沒有對這區域太多關注。她說: 「然後突然東南亞就遭受了嚴重打擊」。

對越南徵收的關稅尤其嚴厲，並且可能對全球貿易產生長期影響，因為越南已成為中國製造業的重要替代者。 Kishore 女士說:「我還在理解這個問題」。

近年來，由於成本上升和中美關係緊張加劇，企業紛紛將工廠遷出鄰近的中國，越南和墨西哥成為全球供應鏈轉移的最大受益者。經濟繁榮導致越南對美國的貿易順差在 2024 年激增至 1,235 億美元，僅次於中國和墨西哥，位居第三。

最初，大部分貿易都是由企業將產品從中國轉運到越南，然後再出口到美國。但近年來，隨著企業在越南建立新工廠並試圖複製大部分中國供應鏈，越來越多的貿易是由越南製造的產品所推動。

（待續）

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (2/2)

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Fixing the US Navy's shipbuilding problems starts with the workers, agency analysts say (2/2)

Business Insider - Chris Panella

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 4:17 a.m. PDT·4 min read

(continue)

Oakley's statement to lawmakers this week, which featured information from the GAO's study on Navy shipbuilding, said that shipyards are largely struggling to replace the loss of experienced, skilled workers with new ones.

This issue applies, too, to white-collar shipbuilders like designers, naval architects, and engineers who "can take other jobs," Ronald O'Rourke, a naval affairs analyst with the Congressional Research Service, said.

There is also overlap with maintenance and repair yards. Oakley noted that the Navy's strategy has to focus on that alongside building, as they're inseparable and face similar issues, especially with regard to labor.

Some major US shipbuilders, especially those working on top US Navy submarines and surface ships, have pointed out the differences between their workforces today and 30 years ago: they're having trouble hiring people and keeping experienced workers.

They've also spoken to the overlap between these labor issues and other problems in shipbuilding. The Navy has often had inconsistent demand signals for its programs, which leaves industry in an uncertain place for hiring and maintaining workers.

US commercial and military shipbuilding problems are a priority in Washington right now. President Donald Trump has announced plans to create a White House office dedicated to the issue, and both his pick for Navy secretary and his defense secretary have highlighted the focus on shipbuilding.

The urgency is especially felt amid China's continued shipbuilding dominance. China boasts the largest shipbuilding industry in the world, vastly overshadowing the US, with blurred lines between its commercial and military yards.

As the US continues to prioritize meeting China's rise and the state of great power competition, shipbuilding has come to the forefront as a potential problem for the American military should the US and China clash at sea.

As it stands, the Navy's plans to continue building and maintaining its fleet will come at a hefty price tag. The US Congressional Budget Office said earlier this year it expected the Navy, based on the service's 2025 shipbuilding plan, to need about $40 billion each year through 2054.

But due to infrastructure and workforce limitations, the GAO said, "none of the seven shipbuilders that construct Navy battle force ships are currently positioned to meet the Navy's ship delivery goals."

Translation

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (2/2)

（繼續）

Oakley 本周向立法者發表的聲明引用了美國政府問責署關 (GAO)於海軍造船業的研究信息，聲明中表示，造船廠在很大程度上難以用新工人來取代流失的有經驗、熟練的工人。

美國國會研究服務處海軍事務分析師 Ronald O'Rourke說，這一問題同樣適用於設計師、船舶建築師和工程師等「可以從事其他工作」的白領船舶建造者。

它也與維修和修理場有重疊。Oakley指出，海軍的戰略必須把這些一併重點放在建設上，因為它們密不可分，而且面臨類似的問題，特別是在勞動力方面。

美國主要造船廠，特別是致力於給美國海軍頂級潛艇和水面艦艇服務的造船廠，指出了今天的勞動力與30年前的差異：他們在招募人員和留住有經驗的工人方面遇到了困難。

他們也談到了勞工問題與造船業其他問題的重疊。海軍的需求計劃訊息經常不一致，這導致該行業在僱用和留住工人方面處於不確定的境地。

美國商用和軍用船舶建造問題是華盛頓目前的首要任務。特朗普總統已宣布計劃在白宮設立一個專門處理這一問題的辦公室，他挑選的海軍部長和國防部長都強調了對造船業的關注。

在中國繼續保持造船業主導地位的背景下，這種緊迫性顯得尤為明顯。中國擁有世界上最大的造船業，遠遠超過美國，其商業和軍用造船廠之間的界線非常模糊。

隨著美國繼續優先應對中國的崛起​​和與大國競爭，一旦美國和中國在海上發生衝突，造船業顯得引人注意成為了美國軍方面臨的潛在問題。

按照目前的情況，海軍繼續建造和維護其艦隊的計劃將花費高昂的價錢。美國國會預算辦公室今年稍早表示，根據海軍 2025 年造船計劃，預計到 2054 年海軍每年將需要約 400 億美元。

但美國政府問責局表示，由於基礎設施和勞動力的限制， “建造海軍戰鬥艦艇的七家造船廠目前都無法滿足海軍的艦艇交付目標。”

              So, the American shipbuilding industry is facing severe issues, primarily in improving its workforce that start with providing competitive wages, quality-of-life improvements, and retention of skilled employees.  The Navy's plans to continue building and maintaining its fleet will be very expensive. Apparently, the US has to find new money to support its navy.

Note:

1. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent agency whose mission is to "provide Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonpartisan, non-ideological, fair, and balanced." Its reports give Congress information that can improve government operations and save taxpayers billions of dollars. (https://www.gao.gov/for-congress/reports)

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (1/2)

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Fixing the US Navy's shipbuilding problems starts with the workers, agency analysts say (1/2)

Business Insider - Chris Panella

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 4:17 a.m. PDT·4 min read

The American shipbuilding industry is grappling with severe problems, none perhaps more crucial than the state of the workforce, naval affairs experts said this week.

Addressing the shipbuilding industry's workforce challenges, they explained, starts with competitive wages, quality-of-life improvements, and retention of skilled employees.

At a House Armed Service Committee Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee hearing, members and witnesses talked about some of the woes facing US shipbuilders, such as the smaller industrial base and erratic demand signals from the Navy, and how these long-standing challenges are affecting top Navy programs.

"To say this plainly, we must act now," said Sen. Trent Kelly, the subcommittee chairman.

"Whether through changes to our procurement processes, stronger industrial base investments, or cultural shifts within shipbuilding program offices," the Mississippi Republican said, "we need to make these decisions sooner rather than later."

A range of topics were discussed during the hearing, but the problems relating to shipbuilding workers were center stage.

The consensus among witnesses like Eric Labs, senior analyst for naval forces and weapons with the Congressional Budget Office, and Shelby Oakley, the director of contracting and national security acquisitions with the Government Accountability Office, was that the starting point for fixing US shipbuilding issues is investing in the workforce.

"In my view, nothing is more important than addressing the critical labor shortages that afflict all the shipbuilding and public maintenance yards," Labs said. Recruitment has been low, and retention difficult, especially in trades such as welding, ship fitters, and pipe fitters.

The primary solution brought up was higher wages. Worker pay isn't competitive enough, experts argued, especially for what can be a demanding job, meaning potential workers are opting for employment at retail outlets and other places. There's a decline in interest in manufacturing jobs and not enough investment in fixing that.

Other related problems are improving the quality of life and working conditions in the yards, cheaper housing, and more benefits. Upping automation in shipyards, as well as better worker training, too, were included.

There have been proposals put forward for better pay, as that's been a focus for industry and the Navy, but the challenges aren't easily solved. Higher wages invite entry-level workers, experts said, but then those yards must retain those skilled workers and invest in their careers.

(to be continued)

Translation

機構分析師表示解決美國海軍造船問題應從工人開始 (1/2)

 

海軍事務專家們本週表示，美國造船業正面臨嚴重的問題，其中最關鍵的或許就是勞動力狀況。

他們解釋說，解決船舶製造業的勞動力挑戰首先要有競爭力的薪資、改善生活品質和留住熟練的員工。

在眾議院軍事委員會海上力量和兵力投送小組委員會的聽證會上，議員和證人談到了美國造船商面臨的一些困境，例如工業基礎較小、海軍發出的需求信號不穩定，以及這些長期存在的挑戰如何影響海軍頂級項目。

小組委員會主席 Trent Kelly 參議員說: 「坦白說，我們必須立即採取行動」。

這位密西西比州共和黨人表示： “無論是通過改變我們的採購流程、加強工業基礎投資，還是造船項目辦公室內部的文化轉變，我們都需要儘早做出這些決定。”

聽證會上討論了一系列主題，但有關造船工人的問題成為焦點。

美國國會預算辦公室海軍力量與武器高級分析師 Eric Labs, 和美國政府問責局承包與國家安全收購主管Shelby Oakley 等證人的共識是，解決美國造船問題的起點是投資於勞動力。

Labs說： “在我看來，沒有什麼比解決困擾所有造船和公共維修廠的嚴重勞動力短缺問題更重要。”  招聘人數一直很低，而且很難留住人才，特別是在焊接、船舶裝配工和管道裝配工等行業。

提出的主要解決方案是提高工資。專家認為，工人的薪水不夠有競爭力，特別是對於要求高的工作來說，這意味著潛在的工人會選擇在零售店和其他地方就業。人們對製造業職位的興趣正在下降，而去解決這個問題的投資卻不夠。

其他相關問題包括改善船塢裡的生活質素和工作條件、提供更便宜的住房以及提供更多的福利。其中還包括提高造船廠的自動化程度以及加強工人培訓。

已經有人提出了提高薪資的建議，因為這是工業界和海軍關注的重點，但這些挑戰並不容易解決。專家表示，更高的工資可以吸引初級工人，但船廠必須留住這些技術工人，並對他們的職業生涯進行投資。

（待續）

美國開始在澳洲戰略海岸部署潛艦部隊 - 基於AUKUS聯盟

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

US starts to build submarine presence on strategic Australian coast under AUKUS

Sun, March 16, 2025 at 7:50 a.m. PDT·3 min read

By Kirsty Needham

PERTH (Reuters) - In the control room of the American Virginia class attack submarine USS Minnesota, off the Western Australian coast, sonar operators adjust to the chatter of dolphins in new waters where the U.S. submarine presence will soon grow significantly.

On a training exercise from its home port in Guam, USS Minnesota is a forerunner to four Virginia class submarines that will be hosted at a Western Australian naval base from 2027, under the AUKUS partnership to transfer nuclear submarine capability to Australia.

Crew use video game joysticks to interrogate screen images from a photonic mast that has replaced a periscope. Life aboard can mean up to 100 days without seeing sunlight, and intermittent communication with families via email to maintain stealth.

Commanding officer Jeffrey Corneille says the Virginia class submarine is "the most advanced warship in the world".

"If someone wakes up and they say 'Is today the day?', we make sure that they say 'Maybe not'," he says, describing its deterrent role.

Around 50-80 United States navy personnel will arrive by the middle of the year at Western Australia's HMAS Stirling base, which is undergoing an A$8 billion ($5 billion) upgrade to prepare for the "Submarine Rotational Force West", Australian officials have said.

In two years, those numbers will swell to hundreds of U.S. navy personnel and support crew.

The location of HMAS Stirling, closer to Asia and the Indian Ocean than the U.S. Pacific fleet headquarters in Hawaii, is strategically important to the United States, said Peter Dean, director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

"Defending the Indian Ocean against rising Chinese capabilities and power is important," he said.

The Virginia submarine program has been exempted from Pentagon budget cuts as the Trump administration focuses less on the Middle East and Europe, and more on the Indo Pacific, he said.

The Trump administration's number three Pentagon official, Elbridge Colby, told a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing this month the attack submarines are "absolutely essential" for making the defence of Taiwan viable, and production rates must be lifted to first meet U.S. needs and also to fulfill its obligations to sell submarines to Australia under the AUKUS pact.

The USS Minnesota moved its home port from Hawaii to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, closer to Taiwan and the only forward-deployed U.S. submarine base, in November.

A Chinese navy task group that circumnavigated Australia in February and March, holding unprecedented live fire drills off the east coast that disrupted commercial airlines, before passing Western Australia to coincide with the USS Minnesota's port call and heading into the Indian Ocean, has highlighted China's ambition to operate more frequently in Australia's neighbourhood, Australian officials said.

Under AUKUS, Australia’s most expensive defence project, Australia will buy two used Virginia class submarines next decade, and build a new class of nuclear powered submarine with Britain, to replace its ageing diesel powered fleet.

In preparation, there are 115 Australians in the U.S. nuclear navy training pipeline or on Virginia submarines, plus 130 training for nuclear submarine maintenance at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, U.S. navy officials said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Perth; editing by Giles Elgood)

Translation

美國開始在澳洲戰略海岸部署潛艦部隊 - 基於AUKUS聯盟

珀斯（路透社）— 在西澳大利亞海岸附近的美國弗吉尼亞級攻擊潛艇明尼蘇達號的控制室裡，聲納操作員正在適應新海域海豚的鳴叫，美國潛艇的出現將很快地顯著增加。

明尼蘇達號核潛艇正在關島母港進行訓練演習，它是四艘弗吉尼亞級潛艇的前身。根據 AUKUS 合作夥伴關係，將核潛艇能力轉移給澳洲, 將於 2027 年在西澳大利亞海軍基地作客。

機組人員使用電玩操縱桿, 向取代潛望鏡的光子桅杆的螢幕影像獲取信息用。在船上的生活意味著長達 100 天都見不到陽光，並且只能透過電子郵件與家人斷斷續續地溝通以保持隱密。

指揮官Jeffrey Corneille 說，維吉尼亞級潛艦是「世界上最先進的軍艦」。

當他在描述其威懾作用時說道 :“如果有人醒來後問 ‘今天是那一天嗎？’，我們會確保他們會說 ‘也許不是’ ” 。

澳洲官員表示，約有 50 至 80 名美國海軍人員將於今年年中抵達西澳大利亞的皇家海軍(HMAS) Stirling基地，該基地正在進行耗資 80 億澳元（50 億美元）的升級，為「西部潛艇輪換部隊」做準備。

兩年內，這一數字將增加到數百名美國海軍人員和支援人員。

雪梨大學美國研究中心外交政策與國防問題主任 Peter Dean 表示，HMAS Stirling 基地的位置比位於夏威夷的美國太平洋艦隊總部更靠近亞洲和印度洋，對美國具有重要的戰略意義。

他說： “保衛印度洋抵禦中國不斷增強的能力和力量至關重要。”

他說，由於特朗普政府的重點不再是中東和歐洲，而是更關注印度太平洋地區，維吉尼亞潛艇計劃免受五角大廈預算削減的影響。

特朗普政府五角大廈官員三號人物 Elbridge Colby 本月在美國參議院的確認聽證會上表示，攻擊型潛艇對於保衛台灣 “絕對必要” ，必須提高潛艇生產率，首先滿足美國的需求，同時也要履行其根據 AUKUS 條約向澳大利亞出售潛艇的義務。

11 月，明尼蘇達號潛水艇將其母港從夏威夷遷至美國太平洋領土關島，該地更靠近台灣，也是美國唯一的前線部署潛艇基地。

澳洲官員稱，中國海軍編隊於 2 月和 3 月繞澳大利亞航行，在東海岸舉行了史無前例的實彈演習，導致商業航班中斷，其艘驅逐艦經過西澳大利亞，然後與美國海軍明尼蘇達號驅逐艦的停靠港口同步，再駛入印度洋，這凸顯了中國在澳洲週邊地區開展更頻繁活動的抱負。

根據澳洲最昂貴的國防計劃 AUKUS，澳洲將在未來十年購買兩艘二手維吉尼亞級潛艦，並與英國共同建造一艘新型核動力潛艦，以取代其老化的柴油動力艦隊。

美國海軍官員說，在準備階段，有 115 名澳洲人在美國的核海軍系統性訓練流程中，或在維吉尼亞號潛艇上接受訓練，另外還有 130 名澳洲人在夏威夷珍珠港接受核潛艇維護培訓。

       So, under AUKUS, Australia will buy two used Virginia class submarines next decade, and build a new class of nuclear-powered submarine with Britain. Meanwhile around 50-80 United States navy personnel will arrive at Western Australia's HMAS Stirling base. Apparently, Australia’s navy force is expanding in response to the challenges from China.

Note:

1. AUKUS , also styled as Aukus, is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States intended to "promote a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable." This partnership involves two lines of effort referred to as pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Australia acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines and the rotational basing of US and UK nuclear-powered attack submarines in Australia. Pillar 2 is about the collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas: undersea capabilities, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and autonomy, advanced cyber, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic capabilities, and electronic warfare; and in two broader functional areas: innovation and information sharing.(Wikipedia)

2. HMAS Stirling is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base that is part of Fleet Base West situated on the west coast of Australia, on the Indian Ocean. The base is located on Garden Island in the state of Western Australia, near the city of Perth.

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変したブタの腎臓移植に成功、「異種移植」大きな前進　米

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

(continue)

移植成功の鍵を握る遺伝子操作

動物の臓器を人間に移植する「異種移植（ゼノトランスプランテーション）」は、長い間、ＳＦの世界のものと考えられてきた。しかし、米国ではブタを使った異種移植がこの３年間で６例実施されている。これらのブタは、その臓器がより人体に適合するように遺伝子操作されている。

アンドリュースさんへの移植手術を行ったマサチューセッツ総合病院の医療チームは、マサチューセッツ州ケンブリッジに拠点を置くバイオテクノロジー企業、イージェネシスが開発した臓器を使用した。

科学者たちは、ＣＲＩＳＰＲと呼ばれる遺伝子操作技術を使って、ブタのＤＮＡを改変する。

イージェネシスの研究者たちは、拒絶反応や臓器の大きさ、さらに人への感染の恐れのあるレトロウイルスなど、多くの潜在的問題に対処するために６０以上の遺伝子操作を行っている。

大勢の患者にとって希望の光

アンドリュースさんは移植手術からわずか１週間で退院したが、引き続き経過観察が行われている。

週３回の血液検査に加え、複数の端末を使って医療チームが遠隔でアンドリュースさんのバイタルサインや心拍リズムを監視している。また人間の腎臓を移植した場合と同様に、拒絶反応を抑制するために、アンドリュースさんは生涯にわたって免疫抑制剤を服用する必要がある。

米国では３７００万人の成人が慢性腎疾患を抱えており、そのうち約８０万人が末期の腎不全を患っている。

ニューヨーク大学ランゴーン医療センターの移植外科医ジェイム・ロック医師によると、同センターでは毎年８万～１０万人の患者を腎臓移植の待機リストに登録するが、年間に実施する腎移植は２万５０００～２万８０００件にとどまるという。しかも、腎不全を患うすべての患者が待機リストに登録されるわけではない。

アンドリュースさんのように末期の腎疾患を患う患者にとって、この新たな臓器は全く予想していなかった明るい兆しだ。

「まさに一筋の希望の光だ」とアンドリュースさんは述べた。

Translation

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (2/2)

CNN 2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

(continue)

Genetic manipulation held the key to successful transplantation

“Xenotransplantation”, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, had long been considered something of a science fiction story. However, six xenotransplantations using pigs had been performed in the US in the past three years. These pigs were genetically modified to make their organs more compatible with the human body.

The medical team at Massachusetts General Hospital who performed Andrews' transplant surgery used organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Scientists used a genetic engineering technique called CRISPR to modify the pig's DNA.

eGenesis researchers had performed more than 60 genetic modifications to address many potential issues, including rejection, organ size, and even retroviruses that could infect humans.

A ray of hope for many patients

Andrews was released from the hospital just one week after the transplant, but remained under observation.

In addition to blood tests three times a week, Andrews' vital signs and heart rhythm were monitored remotely by a medical team using multiple devices. As with a human kidney transplant, Andrews would need to take immunosuppressants for the rest of his life to prevent rejection.

In the United States, 37 million adults had chronic kidney disease, of which about 800,000 suffered from final-stage renal failure.

Dr. Jayme Locke, a transplant surgeon at New York University Langone Medical Center, said the center put 80,000 to 100,000 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list each year, but performed only 25,000 to 28,000 kidney transplants annually. Furthermore, not all patients with kidney failure had been put on the waiting list.

For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ was an unexpected promising sign.

"It really is a ray of hope," Andrews said.

              So, Andrews has been on dialysis for about two years due to final-stage kidney disease. In February a pig kidney transplant performed on him was a success. This transplant surgery uses organs developed by eGenesis, a biotechnology company based in the US. For patients with final stage renal disease like Andrews, the new organ is an unexpected promising sign. I hope Andrews will start a new life with this pig kidney transplant, and his experience will benefit other patients with similar organ failure.

Note:

1. In its website eGenesis states that it is a biotechnology company committed to using its multiplex gene editing and genome engineering platform to transform solid organ and therapeutic cell transplantation for the treatment of serious diseases. (https://egenesisbio.com/about/)

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (1/2)

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

遺伝子改変したブタの腎臓移植に成功、「異種移植」大きな前進　米 (1/2)

CNN

2025.03.08 Sat posted at 18:30 JST

 （ＣＮＮ） ６６歳のティム・アンドリュースさんにとって、それは生死に関わる問題だった。

アンドリュースさんは、末期の腎疾患のため、約２年にわたり透析を受けた。腎移植の待機リストに登録されていたが、アンドリュースさんの血液型が原因でドナー（臓器提供者）探しは困難を極めた。

腎移植の平均待機期間は、大半の医療センターで３～５年だが、血液型がＯ型の人の場合は、移植までの待機期間が１０年に及ぶこともあることが複数の研究で明らかになっている。

アンドリュースさんが長期透析により、向こう５年間生きられる確率はわずか３５％だ。医師たちは、アンドリュースさんが今後５年以内に腎移植を受けられる可能性は約９％と予測していた。

そのため、マサチューセッツ総合病院の医師たちから、ブタの腎臓を使った実験的な移植を検討したらどうかと提案された時、アンドリュースさんに迷いはなかった。

「突然のことだが、もう暗闇の中にはいない。これから快方に向かう。自分はこれ（ブタの腎臓の移植）にかける」

アンドリュースさんは病院でのインタビューでそう述べた。

そして２月７日、マサチューセッツ総合病院の医師たちは、アンドリュースさんへのブタの腎臓移植が成功したと発表した。

１月２５日に行われたこの移植手術は、米食品医薬品局（ＦＤＡ）の拡大アクセス（一般にコンパッショネート・ユースと呼ばれる）制度を通じて実施された。この拡大アクセスは、死が切迫している病状の患者に、試験研究中の医療製品の使用を認める制度だ。

アンドリュースさんは、３人の患者を対象に行われる研究の最初の患者となる。また、現在世界でブタの腎臓の移植手術を受けて生存している２人目の人物となる。

同病院の腎移植部門の医療ディレクターを務めるレオナルド・リエラ医師は次のように述べた。

「今年、３人の患者を対象に実施されるこの研究は、命を救う腎移植を必要とする何千人もの患者にとって、異種移植が革新的な解決策として長期的に実現可能か否かを見極める重大な手掛かりとなるだろう」

(to be continued)

Translation

Genetically modified pig kidney transplant successfully completed, a major step forward for xenotransplantation - the US (1/2)

(CNN) For 66-year-old Tim Andrews, it was a matter of life and death.

Andrews had been on dialysis for about two years due to final-stage kidney disease. He was on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, but Andrews' blood type made it extremely difficult to find a donor (organ donor).

The average wait time for a kidney transplant was three to five years at most medical centers, but studies had shown that people with blood type O could wait as long as 10 years for a transplant.

Andrews' long-term dialysis gave him only a 35% chance of surviving the next five years. Doctors predicted that he had about a 9% chance of receiving a kidney transplant within the next five years.

So, when doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital suggested he consider an experimental pig kidney transplant, Andrews didn't hesitate.

"All of a sudden, I'm not in the dark anymore. I'm on my way to recovery. I'm going to do this [pig kidney transplant]."

Andrews said in an interview at the hospital.

And on February 7, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced that Andrews' pig kidney transplant was a success.

The transplant, which took place on January 25, was performed through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Expanded Access (commonly known as compassionate use) program. Expanded access allowed patients who were in a critical condition to use experimental medical products.

Andrews would be the first patient in the three-patient study. He would also be the second person in the world to have survived a pig kidney transplant.

Dr. Leonardo Riella, medical director of kidney transplantation at the hospital, said:

"This study, which will be conducted on three patients this year, will provide important clues to whether xenotransplantation may be a viable and long-term solution for the thousands of patients who need life-saving kidney transplants."

(to be continued)

Taiwan's TSMC to invest 15 trillion yen in the US, President Trump announces

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

台湾ＴＳＭＣ、米国で１５兆円投資へ　トランプ大統領発表

2025.03.04 Tue posted at 17:47 JST

  ニューヨーク（ＣＮＮ） 台湾の半導体大手、台湾積体電路製造（ＴＳＭＣ）が、米国での生産事業に少なくとも１０００億ドル（約１５兆円）を投資するとの見通しが明らかになった。

 

トランプ米大統領が３日、魏哲家・最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）、ラトニック商務長官、人工知能（ＡＩ）・暗号資産政策を指揮するサックス氏とともに、ホワイトハウスで発表した。

 

アリゾナ州ですでに稼働しているＴＳＭＣの半導体製造工場一つと建設中の二つに加え、新たに先端工場三つを建設するための資金で、数万人の雇用創出が期待される。

 

Translation

Taiwan's TSMC to invest 15 trillion yen in the US, President Trump announces

New York (CNN) Taiwanese semiconductor giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was set to invest at least $100 billion (approximately 15 trillion yen) in its manufacturing operations in the US.

US President Trump announced this at the White House on the 3rd, along with CEO Wei Zhejia (魏哲家), Secretary of Commerce Lutnick, and Sachs, who oversees artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency policies.

The funds would be used to build three new cutting-edge factories, in addition to one TSMC semiconductor manufacturing plant already in operation and two under construction in Arizona, tens of thousands of jobs were expected to be created.

       So, TSMC will be investing at least $100 billion in its manufacturing operations in the US. I am wondering what are the reasons that push TSMC to make such a decision. Will US tariffs be a factor? Or the future security of Taiwan?

熊貓吃竹子而不跟隨直覺進食。科學家解釋原因

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

Pandas eat bamboo instead of going with their gut. Scientists explain why

Chris Lau, CNN

Thu, February 27, 2025 at 11:13 p.m. PST·2 min read

Pandas famously love bamboo but the fluffy mammals actually have digestive systems typical of animals that eat a meat-based diet - and Chinese scientists now think they know why.

They say gorging on the tall, fast-growing plant can influence the covert carnivores’ behavior and regulate the bears’ sense of smell and taste.

Native to southwest China, pandas spend up to 16 hours a day devouring bamboo, absorbing a genetic material called microRNA (miRNA) into their bloodstream, according to research published Friday in the journal Frontiers.

The molecule can influence how genetic information is transferred across pandas’ bodies, shaping the way they act, said the research led by China West Normal University in Sichuan province.

MiRNA plays “a role in regulating the gene expression of giant pandas,” said Dr Li Feng, a senior author from the university, in a statement.

Li and his colleagues found that the molecule can shape physiological processes in pandas’ bodies, including growth, biological rhythms, behavior and immune responses.

“MiRNA in bamboo is also involved in the regulation of smell, taste, and dopamine pathways of giant pandas, all of which are related to their feeding habits,” he said.

The researchers believe that by the time a baby panda grows up, it will develop the ability to pick the freshest and most nutritious bamboo, which enables them to adapt to a plant-based diet.

The study was based on blood samples from six adult pandas and a juvenile. Among those samples, scientists detected 57 traces of miRNAs likely derived from bamboo.

They hope the discovery can help scientists further understand the effect of plant miRNA on animals, potentially paving the way for the treatment or prevention of diseases, according to the study.

Though the panda’s diet consists almost entirely of bamboo leaves, stems and shoots, about 1% of their food comes from other plants - and even meat such as small rodents, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

About 1,800 pandas live in the wild, roaming mountain ranges in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu, WWF says.

Habitat loss and fragmentation pose the biggest threats to wild pandas, while their lukewarm desire to reproduce has made preserving them a challenge. When mothers finally give birth, newborn pandas are extremely fragile.

China has drastically scaled up efforts to save the bears over the past decades, boosting the number of panda reserves from 12 to 67.

Translation

熊貓吃竹子而不跟隨直覺進食。科學家解釋原因

眾所周知，大貓熊喜愛吃竹子，但這種毛茸茸的哺乳動物實際上擁有典型的肉食動物的消化系統 - 中國科學家現在認為他們知道了其中的原因。

他們表示，大量食用這種高大、快速生長的植物可以影響隱性肉食者的行為，並調節熊貓的嗅覺和味覺。

根據週五發表在《前沿》雜誌上的一項研究顯示，大貓熊原產於中國西南部，每天要花 16 個小時進食竹子，將一種名為微小核糖核酸 (miRNA) 的遺傳物質吸收到血液中。

四川省華師範大學主導的研究顯示，這種分子可以影響大熊貓體內遺傳訊息的傳遞方式，進而塑造它們的行為方式。

該大學資深作者 Li Feng 博士在聲明中表示，miRNA「在調節大熊貓基因表現方面發揮作用」。

Li 和他的同事發現這種分子會影響熊貓體內的生理過程，包括生長、生物節律、行為和免疫反應。

他說： “竹子中的miRNA也參與調節大熊貓的嗅覺、味覺和多巴胺通路，這些都與它們的飲食習慣有關。”

研究人員認為，在大熊貓寶寶長大後，它們將具備挑選最新鮮、最有營養的竹子的能力，這使它們能夠適應以植物為基礎的飲食。

研究以六隻成年大熊貓和一隻幼年大熊貓的血液樣本為基礎。在這些樣本中，科學家檢測到了 57 種可能來自竹子的 miRNA 痕跡。

根據研究，他們希望這項發現能幫助科學家進一步了解植物 miRNA 對動物的影響，為治療或預防疾病鋪平道路。

根據世界野生動物基金會 (WWF) 介紹，雖然大貓熊的食物幾乎全部由竹葉、竹莖和竹筍組成，但其約 1% 的食物來自其他植物，甚至還有細小的囓齒動物的肉。

世界自然基金會稱，約有 1,800 隻大熊貓生活在野生環境中，漫遊於中國四川、陝西和甘肅省的山脈中。

棲息地喪失和破碎化對野生大熊貓構成了最大的威脅，而它們冷淡的繁殖慾望也使去保育它們成為一項挑戰。當熊貓媽媽最終生產時，新生的熊貓是極其脆弱的。

過去幾十年來，中國大大提升了拯救熊貓的力度，大熊貓保護區的數量從 12 隻增加到 67 隻。

So, a study based on blood samples from pandas has detected 57 traces of miRNAs likely derived from bamboo. They hope the discovery can help scientists further understand the effect of plant miRNA on animals, potentially paving the way for the treatment or prevention of diseases.

一家名不見經傳的中國公司研發出一種藥物，打敗了全球最暢銷的藥物（2/2）

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

A little-known Chinese company made a drug that beat the world’s biggest-selling medicine (2/2)

Wayne Chang, Will Ripley and Eric Cheung, CNN

Tue, February 25, 2025 at 6:59 p.m. PST·5 min read

(continue)

According to a research note published by HSBC Qianhai Securities earlier this month, China is becoming an innovation hub for the entire industry, with the number of licensing deals jumping from just 46 in 2017 to more than 200 last year. The total deal amount was just $4 billion in 2017, and rose to $57 billion last year, it said.

And figures from market intelligence firm Mergermarket indicated that large pharmaceutical transactions worth $50 million or more involving Chinese firms grew nearly 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Cui Cui, managing director of healthcare research for Jefferies, said Chinese biotech firms’ research capabilities and development efficiency are catching up, thanks to factors such as strong government support, foreign investment and a wealth of domestic talent.

“In the past, [Chinese biotech] are perceived to be only copycats, but in the future, it might be able to compete with the global best-in-class pharmaceutical companies,” Cui told CNN.

 

Doubts at home

But while Akeso’s achievement is making waves overseas, debate is raging in China over the quality of domestically produced generic drugs, which have the same active ingredients as patented drugs but are much cheaper.

Distrust over the track record of domestically produced medicine runs deep in China. Such concerns spiraled into public uproar last month over the alleged questionable quality of Chinese generic drugs, which has led to an official investigation.

China’s health regulator subsequently defended the safety of the drugs, saying the probe found the quality concerns to be unsubstantiated. Several Beijing residents told CNN last week that they were not familiar with Akeso or its new drug and still preferred imported drugs.

“To be honest, I tend to choose the more expensive medicine. After all, you get what you pay for,” Gu Zhihao, a Beijing resident, told CNN.

US investors and regulators have previously questioned the quality of clinical trial data gathered in China. Liang said the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected drugs developed in the country in the past because the trial setup was “not rigorous enough.”

Akeso’s new drug, which is not a generic, has been approved by China’s pharmaceutical regulator for some lung cancer patients. But it is still years away from being sold in the US.

A global trial is now in the works for later this year, which could further prove its efficacy, according to Cui. If the outcome is sound, it would be further evidence of the strides China has made in developing cutting-edge drugs.

Translation

一家名不見經傳的中國公司研發出一種藥物，打敗了全球最暢銷的藥物（2/2）

（繼續）

根據匯豐前海證券本月稍早發布的一份研究報告，中國正在成為這整個產業的創新中心，其授權交易數量從 2017 年的 46 項躍升至去年的 200 多項。該公司表示，2017年交易總額僅40億美元，去年則升至570億美元。

市場情報公司 Mergermarket 的數據顯示，2024 年涉及中國企業的價值 5,000 萬美元或以上的大型醫藥交易比上一年增長了近 30%。

Jefferies的醫療保健研究董事總經理 Cui Cui表示，得益於政府的大力支持、外國投資和豐富的國內人才等因素，中國生物科技公司的研發能力和開發效率正在迎頭趕上。

Cui告訴 CNN： “過去，人們認為（中國生物科技）只是模仿者，但未來它或許能夠與全球一流的製藥公司競爭。”

 

國內疑慮

然而，儘管康方生物的成功在海外引起轟動，但中國國內對國產仿製藥的品質卻存在激烈爭論。

中國國內對國產藥品的業績記錄存在著根深蒂固的不信任。上個月，中國仿製藥品質問題引發民眾擔憂，並引發官方調查。

中國衛生監管機構隨後為這些藥品的安全性進行辯護，表示調查發現的品質問題沒有根據。上週，幾名北京居民告訴 CNN，他們不熟悉康方生物及其新藥，仍然更喜歡進口藥。

北京居民 Gu Zhihao 告訴 CNN: 「說實話，我傾向於選擇更昂貴的藥物。畢竟，一分錢一分貨」。

美國投資者和監管機構先前曾對中國收集的臨床試驗數據的品質提出質疑。Rebecca Liang 說，美國食品藥物管理局（FDA）過去曾拒絕該國研發的藥物，因為試驗設置「不夠嚴格」。

康方生物的新藥並非仿製藥，已獲得中國藥品監管機構的批准，可用於治療某些肺癌患者。但它距離在美國銷售仍需數年時間。

Cui表示，目前正準備在今年稍後進行全球試驗，這將進一步證明其有效性。如果結果良好，這將進一步證明中國在研發尖端藥物方面取得了長足進步。

       So, Akeso has shaken up the biotech sector with its new lung cancer drug known as Ivonescimab.In a test conducted in China, the performance of this new drug was found more effective when compared with Keytruda, according to clinical data released at the World Conference on Lung Cancer. I am interested in knowing the result of a global trial on this medicine. 

一家名不見經傳的中國公司研發出一種藥物，打敗了全球最暢銷的藥物（1/2）

 Recently Yahoo News on-line picked up the following:

A little-known Chinese company made a drug that beat the world’s biggest-selling medicine (1/2)

Wayne Chang, Will Ripley and Eric Cheung, CNN

Tue, February 25, 2025 at 6:59 p.m. PST·5 min read

China’s DeepSeek shocked the world by delivering unexpected innovation at an unbelievable price. But this disruptive trend isn’t confined to Big Tech: it has been quietly happening in the pharmaceutical sector.

In September, Akeso, a little-known Chinese biotech company founded nearly a decade ago shook up the biotech sector with its new lung cancer drug.

Ivonescimab, the new drug, was found in a trial conducted in China to have bested Keytruda, the blockbuster medication developed by Merck that has raked in more than $130 billion in sales for the American behemoth that has dominated cancer treatment.

Patients treated with Akeso’s new drug went 11.1 months before their tumors began to grow again, compared with 5.8 months for Keytruda, according to clinical data released at the World Conference on Lung Cancer, a top medical forum.

Over the course of several days in early September, shares in California-based Summit Therapeutics, Akeso’s US partner, more than doubled to a record high, according to data from Refinitiv. The firm had licensed the right to commercialize the new drug in North America and Europe.

At the time, though experts said it was a watershed moment for Chinese pharmaceutical companies, it was little noticed outside the industry. All that changed following DeepSeek’s exploits earlier this year, which put international attention on pockets of innovation in China — with growing global implications.

“I do believe the Chinese biotech industry will play an important role globally. And we [will] participate more and more,” Michelle Xia, the CEO of Akeso, said in an interview last month with BiotechTV.

In a statement sent to CNN, Akeso said it was an “incredibly exciting moment” to see its drug beat Keytruda, the world’s best-selling medication.

“Akeso’s innovation is driven by a deep understanding of disease biology and protein engineering, while benefitting from the fast development time and the abundance of top-tier talent in China,” it said.

 

The rise of Chinese biotech

Until the 1980s, when China opened up its economy, most of its pharmaceutical firms were state-owned. For most of the past 40 years, Chinese biotech companies were mainly replicating existing medications, known as “me-too” drugs.

But over the past 10 years, they’ve begun to innovate with more advanced drugs that can compete directly with the Western offerings. And they’ve signed billions of dollars in licensing deals with Western partners to get their products to the rest of the world.

AstraZeneca signed a $1.92 billion deal with China’s CSPC Pharmaceutical Group last year to develop cardiovascular medication, and Merck has a $2 billion agreement with China’s Hansoh Pharmaceutical over an experimental weight loss pill.

“People were aware that the biotech industry was growing very fast in China, but very few saw it as a real threat to the top US innovators,” said Rebecca Liang, a pharmaceuticals analyst at AB Bernstein. “Now the threat is getting real, because you do start to see these next generation drugs that are sort of a leapfrog.”

(to be continued)

Translation

一家名不見經傳的中國公司研發出一種藥物，打敗了全球最暢銷的藥物（1/2）

中國的 DeepSeek 以令人難以置信的價格實現了意想不到的創新，震驚了世界。但這種顛覆性趨勢並不限於大型科技公司：它也已在製藥業悄悄發生。

9 月，康方生物 - 一家成立於近十年、名不見經傳的中國生物科技公司 - 憑藉其新型肺癌藥物震撼了生物科技界。

在中國進行的一項試驗發現，新藥 Ivonescimab 的效果優於Merck公司開發的暢銷藥物 Keytruda，後者為主導癌症治療市場的美國巨頭帶來了超過 1,300 億美元的銷售額。

根據在頂級醫學論壇世界肺癌大會上發布的臨床數據，使用康方新藥治療的患者的腫瘤在 11.1 個月後才開始再次生長，而使用 Keytruda 治療的患者的腫瘤在 5.8 個月後就開始再次生長。

根據 Refinitiv 的數據，9 月初的幾天內，康方生物美國合作夥伴加州 Summit Therapeutics 的股價上漲了一倍多，創下歷史新高。該公司已獲得在北美和歐洲銷售該新藥的權利。

當時，儘管專家表示，這是中國製藥公司的分水嶺，但業內外卻很少注意到。今年早些時候，DeepSeek 的探索讓一切都改變了，中國的其中一些團體的創新引起了國際社會的關注，其全球影響力也越來越大。

康方生物執行長Michelle Xia上個月在接受 BiotechTV 採訪時表示: 「我確實相信中國生物科技產業將在全球發揮重要作用。而且我們將會有更多參與」。

康方生物在發給 CNN 的聲明中表示，看到自己的藥物擊敗全球最暢銷藥物 Keytruda，是一個「無比令人興奮的時刻」。

該公司表示： “康方生物的創新是源於對疾病生物學和蛋白質工程的深刻理解，同時受益於中國快速的發展時間和豐富的頂尖人才。”

 

中國生物科技的崛起

直到1980年代中國實施經濟開放前，大多數製藥公司都是國營企業。在過去 40 年的大部分時間裡，中國生物科技公司主要在複製現有藥物，即所謂的「仿製藥」。

但在過去十年裡，他們開始創新，研發出更先進的藥物，可以直接與西方藥物競爭。他們還與西方合作夥伴簽署了價值數十億美元的授權協議，以將他們的產品推向世界其他地區。

去年，AstraZeneca 與中國石藥集團簽署了一項價值 19.2 億美元的協議，開發心血管藥物，而Merck則與中國豪森藥業簽署了一項價值 20 億美元的協議，共同開發一種實驗性減肥藥。

AB Bernstein 的製藥業分析師 Rebecca Liang 表示：“人們意識到中國生物技術產業發展非常迅速，但很少有人認為這對美國頂尖創新者構成了真正的威脅” ; “現在威脅已經變得真實，因為你確實開始看到這些下一代藥物具有蛙跳式的發展。”

（待續）

Note:

1.Akeso, Inc. (康方生物), established in 2012, is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of new innovative antibody drugs that are affordable to patients worldwide. (https://www.akesobio.com/en/about-us/corporate-profile/)

2. A me-too drug (類似藥物)as defined as a pharmacologically active compound that is structurally related to a first-in-class compound, regarded as belonging to the same therapeutic class as the original compound, and used for the same therapeutic purposes, but which may differ in some respects, such as specificity of pharmacological action, adverse reactions profile, or drug-drug interactions. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32358800/#:~:text=We%20define%)

3. A "me-too drug" is a medication that is similar to a pre-existing drug, often with minor modifications, and acts on the same target as the first drug of its kind. This differs from a generic drug (仿製藥), which is a copy of a brand-name drug with the same active ingredients, dosage, and intended use.