日本竞标澳大利亚潜艇合同获先机

Japan is in pole position to win the A$20bn contract to replace Australia’s ageing submarine fleet, edging out European manufacturers which are also eager to build the vessels.

在角逐价值达200亿澳元的替换澳大利亚老旧潜艇编队的合同时，日本已占得先机，把也希望建造这些舰艇的欧洲生产商落在身后。

Japan’s chances improved after Australia opted against holding an open tender and follows a recent defence co-operation deal between Tokyo and Canberra. There have also been ministerial-level talks on the potential purchase of Soryu-class submarines built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

在澳大利亚决定不开展公开招标之后，日本的胜算有所加大。不久前，日本和澳大利亚签订了一项防务合作协议。两国也在就澳方可能购买由三菱重工(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)和川崎重工(Kawasaki Heavy Industries)建造的苍龙级(Soryu-class)潜艇一事进行部长级谈判。

If a deal were to be agreed it would represent the largest export of military equipment by Japan since it adopted strict rules on weapons’ sales in the aftermath of the second world war.

如果日澳达成一项潜艇建造协议，那么这将成为自二战后接受严格的武器出口规则以来，规模最大的一宗日本军事设备出口案。

Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government initially pledged to build the new fleet in Australia, a move that would support thousands of local jobs. But it recently raised concerns about the ability of the Australian Submarine Corporation – the state-owned manufacturer that built the Collins-class vessels – to replace them cost effectively. Last week David Johnston, defence minister, said he would not trust the ASC “to build a canoe”.

起初，总理托尼•阿博特(Tony Abbott)领导的澳大利亚政府承诺在国内建造新的潜艇编队，此举将为国内提供数千个就业岗位。但近来，澳政府对澳大利亚潜艇公司(ASC)是否能以较低成本替代现有潜艇提出了担忧。现有的柯林斯级(Collins-class)潜艇是由国有的澳大利亚潜艇公司建造的。上周，澳国防部长戴维•约翰斯顿(David Johnston)表示，就连“造一条独木舟”，他都信不过澳大利亚潜艇公司。

Defence analysts said the decision not to hold an open tender could favour a Japanese bid to build the submarines.

防务分析人士表示，澳方决定不举行公开招标，可能有利于日本赢得这一潜艇建造合同。