【Comment】
ㄏㄏㄏ，美國評論：「這是英國自主決定 This is the UK's sovereign decision.」「期待英國利用自己的發言權促進採行高標凖管理」。
讓二線成員加入對方並監督。也是辦法之一！
但現在看起來，比較像是試水溫！
英国正式申请作为意向创始成员国加入亚投行○中國財政部 (2015.03.13) http://gjs.mof.gov.cn/pindaoliebiao/gongzuodongtai/201503/t20150312_1201640.html
3月12日，英国向中方提交了作为意向创始成员国加入亚洲基础设施投资银行（以下简称亚投行）的确认函，正式申请加入亚投行。
中方欢迎英方的决定。作为亚投行意向创始成员国首席谈判代表会议的主席，中方正根据多边程序征求现有意向创始成员国的意见。如一切顺利，英国将于3月底正式成为亚投行意向创始成员国。
英國申請加入中國牽頭亞洲基礎投資銀行○BBC (2015.03.13) http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/trad/china/2015/03/150313_china_britain_aiib_bank
英國申請加入由中國牽頭的亞洲基礎設施投資銀行（亞投行），這是首個申請加盟的西方國家，美國指英國事前沒有作出知會商討，質疑這類合作是否有高標凖的管理能力。
中國財政部（12日）公布稱，英國向中方提交了作為意向創始成員國加入亞洲基礎設施投資銀行（亞投行）的確認函，正式申請加入亞投行。
財政部在聲明中表示歡迎英方的決定，中方正根據多邊程序徵求現有意向創始成員國的意見。如一切順利，英國將於3月底正式成為亞投行意向創始成員國。
英國表示將於本月稍後與其他亞投行的創始成員國會面，同意確定相關的原則內容。
英國財相奧斯本（George Osborne）發表聲明確認已正式申請加入，又指在創始階段參與，英國與亞洲創造獨一無二的機遇一起投資及增長。他更預料日後可能有更多國家加入，包括西方國家。
2013年10月，中國國家主席習近平和國務院總理李克強先後出訪東南亞國家時提出了籌建亞投行的，去年底中國牽頭正式在北京成立，法定資本一千億美元，以刺激運輸、能源、電信等領域的投資，分析認為這可能挑戰西方主導的世界銀行和亞洲開發銀行。
目前，亞投行意向創始成員國共27個，包括印度、馬來西亞、新西蘭、菲律賓、新加坡等。
英國的舉動引起美國回應，美國白宮國土安全委員會發言人質疑，由中國牽頭的亞投行的管理能力、關注環境及社會保障方面能否與世界銀行或地區投資銀行相提並論。
發言人稱：「這是英國自主決定，希望並期待英國利用自己的發言權促進採行高標凖管理。
美國的反應憂慮更多國家加入由中國倡導成立的亞投行，進一步挑戰美國在國際組織的領導地位，曾經一度游說澳大利亞及南韓等盟友不要加入亞投行。
英國《金融時報》引述美國官員批評英國申請加入亞投行前沒有知會及與美國進行討論，指要警惕英國傾向中國，認為這不是與崛起中國相處的最好方式。
UK announces plans to join Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank○UK (2015.03.12) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-plans-to-join-asian-infrastructure-investment-bank
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne
Once fully operational the AIIB will support access
to finance for infrastructure projects across Asia, using a variety of support measures
- including loans, equity investments, and guarantees - to boost investment across
a range of sectors including transportation, energy, telecommunication, agriculture
and urban development. This support can complement
the work already done in the region by existing Multilateral Development Banks such
as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
As the first major Western country to apply to
become a prospective member of the AIIB, the UK will join discussions later this
month with other founding members to agree the Bank’s prospective Articles of Agreement,
setting out the governance and accountability arrangements that underpin the AIIB’s
operating practices.
As part of these discussions the UK will play a key role in ensuring that the AIIB embodies the best standards in accountability, transparency and governance,
which will be essential to ensuring the success of the initiative and to unlocking
the potential benefits for the wider global economy.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne
I am delighted to announce today that the UK will
be the first major Western country to become a prospective founder member of the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which has already received significant support
in the region.
This government has actively promoted closer political
and economic engagement with the Asia-Pacific region and forging links between the
UK and Asian economies to give our companies the best opportunity to work and invest
in the world’s fastest growing markets is a key part of our long term economic plan. Joining the AIIB at
the founding stage will create an unrivalled opportunity for the UK and Asia
to invest and grow together.
UK seeks membership of China-backed Asia bank○BBC (2015.03.13) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31864877
Britain says it wants to become a "prospective founding member"
of a new China-backed bank that could rival the likes of the World Bank.
The UK would be the first big Western economy to
apply to become a prospective member of the institution.
Launched in Beijing last year, it is called the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Its aim is to lend
money to regional infrastructure projects, however, it has raised concerns
in the US.
There are worries around the new institution's
ability to meet the level of transparency and
governance that other multilateral institutions,
such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), need to reach.
There are also concerns that the AIIB's lending decisions could be used by China to promote its own
interests.
Once operational, the AIIB would aim to boost investment
across the Asian region in areas including agriculture,
transportation and energy.
Some 21 nations came together last year
to sign a memorandum for the bank's establishment,
including Singapore, India and Thailand.
Political response
UK Chancellor George Osborne
said the UK had "actively promoted closer political
and economic engagement with the Asia-Pacific region" and that joining
the AIIB at the founding stage would create "an unrivalled opportunity for
the UK and Asia to invest and grow together".
In reaction to the
British announcement, the White House issued a statement saying: "This is the UK's sovereign decision. We hope and expect
that the UK will use its voice to push for adoption of high standards."
In November last year, Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott offered lukewarm support to the AIIB,
but said its actions must be transparent.
US President Barack
Obama , who met Mr Abbott
"Those are the
same rules by which the World Bank or IMF (International Monetary Fund) or Asian
Development Bank or any other international institution needs to abide by,"
Mr Obama
Control and money
The 21 founding member countries of the AIIB have
agreed the basic parameters that would determine
the capital structure of the new bank would be relative gross domestic product.
Banking experts have estimated that, if taken at
face value, this would give China a 67% shareholding
in the new bank.
When asked if Britain would seek assurances before
it signed on as a member that no one country would be able to unilaterally control
the AIIB, economist David
Kuo
"He who pays the piper calls the tune,"
he said. "The UK could try and negotiate
a power to veto projects but it is unlikely to get it," Mr Kuo
The UK was caught between the US on the West and
China in the East, he added.
"It hopes that it can exert force from within,
rather than put pressure from the outside - but [the UK] is only one voice in a
crowd of many."
With regard to the competition the AIIB would give
the ADB or World Bank, Mr
Kuo
"The existing sources of money can't do everything. So every little helps."
US attacks UK’s ‘constant accommodation’ with China○FT (2015.03.13) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-31864877
High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the
link below, do not cut & paste the article.
See our Ts&Cs
and Copyright Policy
for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional
rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/31c4880a-c8d2-11e4-bc64-00144feab7de.html#ixzz3UEq7tKkk
The Obama administration accused the UK of a “constant
accommodation” of China after Britain decided to join a new China-led financial
institution that could rival the World Bank.
The rare rebuke of one of the US’s closest allies
came as Britain prepared to announce that it will become a founding member of the
$50bn Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank, making it the first country in the G7 group
of leading economies to join an institution launched by China last October.
More
ON THIS STORY
- UK
and US in sharp row about rising China
- How
Cameron lost, and then won, China
- Q&A the
Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Concerns
remain over ADB’s Chinese rival
ON THIS TOPIC
IN GLOBAL ECONOMY
- Erdogan
backs off in central bank battle
- Asian
central banks in rate cut rush
- Depreciation
is no longer a magic bullet
- Fears
of damaging deflation subside
FirstFT is our new essential daily email briefing of
the best stories from across the web
Thursday’s reprimand was a rare breach in the “special
relationship” that has been a backbone of western policy for decades. It also underlined US concerns
over China’s efforts to establish a new generation of international development
banks that could challenge Washington-based global institutions. The US has been lobbying other allies not to join
the AIIB.
Relations between Washington
and David Cameron’s government
have become strained, with senior US officials criticising Britain over falling
defence spending, which could soon go below the Nato target of 2 per cent of gross
domestic product.
A senior US administration official told the Financial
Times that the British decision was taken after “virtually no consultation with
the US” and at a time when the G7 had been discussing how to approach the new bank.
“We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation
of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power,” the US official
said.
British officials were publicly restrained in criticising
China over its handling of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests while Mr Cameron has
made it clear he has no further plans to meet the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual
leader — after a 2012 meeting that prompted a furious response from Beijing.
While Beijing has long been suspicious about US
influence over the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, China also believes
that the US and Japan have too much control over the Manila-based Asian Development
Bank. In addition to the AIIB, China is the
driving force behind last year’s creation of a Brics development
bank and is promoting a $40bn Silk Road Fund to finance economic integration
with Central Asia.
We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation
of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power
- Senior US official
The Obama administration has said it is not opposed
to the AIIB but US officials fear it could become an instrument of Chinese foreign
policy if Beijing ends up having veto power over the bank’s decisions.
The UK Treasury denied that Britain had acted out
of the blue, saying there had been “at least a month of extensive consultation”
at a G7 level, including with Jack
Lew
“Joining the AIIB at the founding stage will create
an unrivalled opportunity for the UK and Asia to invest and grow together,” Mr Osborne
Beijing launched the AIIB in October with the backing
of 20 other countries but Japan, South Korea and Australia —US allies in the region
— did not become founding members. There
has been a strong debate within the Australian cabinet about whether to join, after
US pressure to stay on the sidelines.
Joining the AIIB at the founding stage will create
an unrivalled opportunity for the UK and Asia to invest and grow together
- George Osborne
A decision by the major economies to join now would
give up leverage they might have over the AIIB as it was being set up, the US official
said. “Large economies can have more influence
by staying on the outside and trying to shape the standards it adopts than by getting
on the inside at a time when they can have no confidence that China will not retain
veto powers.”
When Mr Osborne
The House of Commons foreign affairs committee
said last week the British government should press China harder to introduce political
reforms in Hong Kong. The committee also
said it was “profoundly disappointed” at the “mild” response of the government when
MPs were prevented from visiting Hong Kong in November during the protests.
Q&A: The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank
The AIIB — what is it?
The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank is one of four institutions created or proposed by Beijing in what some see as an attempt to create a Sino-centric financial system to rival western dominated institutions set up after the second world war. The other institutions are: the New Development Bank, better known as the Brics bank, and a contingent reserve arrangement, seen as alternatives to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund; a proposed Development Bank of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, a six-country Eurasian political, economic and military grouping dominated by China and Russia.
The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank is one of four institutions created or proposed by Beijing in what some see as an attempt to create a Sino-centric financial system to rival western dominated institutions set up after the second world war. The other institutions are: the New Development Bank, better known as the Brics bank, and a contingent reserve arrangement, seen as alternatives to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund; a proposed Development Bank of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, a six-country Eurasian political, economic and military grouping dominated by China and Russia.
What is it for?
The AIIB offers an alternative to the Asian Development Bank, which focuses on poverty relief and lacks the firepower to undertake the large-scale infrastructure projects that are the remit of the AIIB.
The AIIB offers an alternative to the Asian Development Bank, which focuses on poverty relief and lacks the firepower to undertake the large-scale infrastructure projects that are the remit of the AIIB.
What’s wrong with that?
In principle, nothing. But the ADB and the AIIB are seen as rival, rather than complementary organisations. The ADB was established in 1966 and now has 67 members including 48 from Asia and the Pacific. But it is seen by many in the region as overly dominated by Japan and the US, which are by far its biggest shareholders with holdings of 15.7 per cent and 15.6 per cent respectively, compared with China’s 5.5 per cent. The AIIB was founded last year with 21 members. Notably absent were the US, Japan, Australia and South Korea. The US, it is said, lobbied countries not to join, while China worked hard to get them in.
In principle, nothing. But the ADB and the AIIB are seen as rival, rather than complementary organisations. The ADB was established in 1966 and now has 67 members including 48 from Asia and the Pacific. But it is seen by many in the region as overly dominated by Japan and the US, which are by far its biggest shareholders with holdings of 15.7 per cent and 15.6 per cent respectively, compared with China’s 5.5 per cent. The AIIB was founded last year with 21 members. Notably absent were the US, Japan, Australia and South Korea. The US, it is said, lobbied countries not to join, while China worked hard to get them in.
Does that matter?
Both sides clearly think it does. Proponents of the AIIB criticise the ADB for being overly bureaucratic. The AIIB’s critics say the new lender will play fast and loose with conditionality and other restrictions on the behaviour of borrowers, allowing corruption to flourish. More significant, however, are strategic considerations. The US and China are increasingly engaged in a struggle for regional influence, played out through institutions such as these.
Both sides clearly think it does. Proponents of the AIIB criticise the ADB for being overly bureaucratic. The AIIB’s critics say the new lender will play fast and loose with conditionality and other restrictions on the behaviour of borrowers, allowing corruption to flourish. More significant, however, are strategic considerations. The US and China are increasingly engaged in a struggle for regional influence, played out through institutions such as these.
讓二線成員加入對方並監督。也是辦法之一！
回覆刪除但現在看起來，比較像是試水溫！
____________________________________
真會自我解嘲。