十月四日

Cash-For-Friendship Diplomacy

 

President A-bian made state visits to allied countries in Central America in the past few days, announcing a pledge of NT$8 billion for a “co-prosperity fund.” The opposition camp and local citizens accused the government of running another episode of “money diplomacy.”

Year after year, Taiwan spends millions on public relations and affairs firms just to get on the right side of “Uncle Sam,” but Taiwan is still no closer in gaining entry into the United Nations. Taiwan has continually been under pressure from Washington to buy missiles and other weapons, and yet the U.S. claims that it has no obligation in helping defend Taiwan in the event of an attack by China . Taiwan has also been investing generous amounts of money on its allies, which only led to monetary aid scandals. The list of Taiwan ’s woes goes on and on.

Truth be told, the expenditure in question would seem minute compared to our country’s other expenses. It will cost us NT$80 billion to strengthen flood control and drainage functions, while arms procurement is also said to be worth over NT$400 billion!

On the other hand, what does NT$8 billion mean to Taiwan people? All it comes down to is just fewer cups of pearl milk tea and Louis Vuitton purses—what’s the fuss anyway?

 

凱子外交

 

前陣子阿扁總統出訪中美洲友邦,宣布將以八十億台幣成立「榮邦基金」,被在野黨及台灣人民罵到臭頭,認為又是一次「金錢外交」的戲碼。

        台灣年年花大錢請公關公司向「山姆大叔」說好話,結果還是進不了聯合國;天天被逼著買飛彈武器,美國卻還說它沒責任在老共進犯時協防台灣;這幾年對友邦大肆灑錢,卻還陷入人家的金援醜聞說起台灣的悲情,那還真不是一天一夜說得完的。

        其實比起其他花費,這些錢真的不算什麼。前陣子台灣治水的費用就要八百億,軍購據說也有四千多億!

不過台灣人也真是的,八十億元算什麼?不過就是少喝點珍珠奶茶、少買個LV 包包,吵什麼吵呢?

 

 

1.          cash-for-friendship diplomacy 凱子外交

2.          state visit 國事訪問

3.          allied country 友邦

4.          pledge (n.) 保證;誓約

5.          co-prosperity fund 榮邦基金

6.          opposition camp 反對陣營

7.          episode (n.) 插曲;情節

8.          money diplomacy 金錢外交

9.          public relations and affairs firm 公關公司

10.      Uncle Sam 山姆大叔(即美國)

11.      United Nations 聯合國

12.      missile (n.) 飛彈

13.      obligation (n.) 義務;職責

14.      generous (adj.) 慷慨的;豐富的

15.      monetary aid scandal 金援醜聞

16.      woe (n.) 災禍;悲哀

17.      expenditure (n.)花費;支出額

18.      minute (adj.) 極少的

19.      expense (n.) 花費

20.      drainage (n.) 污水

21.      arms procurement 軍購

22.      pearl milk tea珍珠奶茶

23.      fuss (n.) 不必要的神經質;無謂的激動、煩惱