Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

黄仁勋带来“非常非常好的消息”: H20芯片解禁

德才
2025-07-15T10:45:06.794Z
针对H20解禁,黄仁勋说,“我对此感到非常高兴,这真是一个非常、非常好的消息”。图为黄仁勋6月在巴黎的VivaTech 2025大会现场

(德国之声中文网)在周二(7月15日)接受央视、凤凰卫视等中国媒体采访时,英伟达联合创始人、CEO黄仁勋宣布了H20芯片解禁的消息,表示华盛顿已经批准了其出口许可,英伟达将开始向中国市场出货。

“我对此感到非常高兴,这真是一个非常、非常好的消息”,黄仁勋说。

此外,黄仁勋也透露英伟达将发布一款名为RTX Pro的新GPU显卡。他说,这款显卡“非常重要,它是专为数字孪生技术和人工智能的计算机图形处理设计的”。

专供中国的H20

总部位于加州的英伟达(Nvidia,又译作“辉达”)是芯片领域的全球领导者,生产世界当前最先进芯片。华盛顿因担心北京可能利用尖端芯片增强其军事实力,对英伟达向中国出口进行限制。

早在拜登总统任期内,美国就已经禁止英伟达向中国市场出口最先进的AI芯片。为规避美国政府的出口限制,英伟达专门为中国市场开发了H20芯片。这款“特供中国”的芯片诞生于2023年底,其性能略逊于当前最先进的芯片。

据路透社今年2月底报道,随着许多中国企业开始部署开源的DeepSeek模型,英伟达H20芯片的市场需求暴增。

然而随着特朗普政府今年4月出口许可进一步收紧,H20被禁止销往中国。

相关图集:不能输给中国:美国采取了哪些限制措施?

10年内禁止在华投资半导体:2022年8月9日,美国总统拜登签署《2022年芯片和科技法案》。该法案包括对芯片行业527亿美元的补贴、对半导体和设备制造25%的投资税收抵免等扶持政策。其最受瞩目的条款之一是,禁止获得联邦资金的公司在中国生产先进制程芯片,期限为10年,违反禁令的公司,需要全额退还联邦补助款。换言之,拿了美国政府补贴的资金,10年内不能在中国投资半导体产业。
禁止对华出口尖端芯片:2022年10月7日,美国商务部工业和安全局(Bureau of Industry and Security, “BIS”)公布《出口管制条例》(EAR),一年后再度收紧,尤其针对向中国出口高性能芯片和半导体制造相关事宜。重点管控的目标是被用于数据中心的尖端芯片以及用于训练AI的大模型芯片。美国商务部将逐案调查酌情发放出口许可证。这一背景下,2023年10月美国禁止了英伟达(Nvidia)向中国输出先进芯片。
要求盟国配合限制出口芯片制造设备:2022年10月美国宣布对芯片制造设备的对华出口实施新的限制。此后荷兰的阿斯麦(ASML)和日本的东京电子(Tokyo Electron)跟进宣布配合美国的限制政策。这些国家如果不严格控制对华出口,华府会动用《外国直接产品规则(FDPR)》全面阻止相关产品的销售。此前的2022年8月,所有美国设备制造商都收到了商务部的信函,通知他们不要向中国供应用于14纳米或以下芯片制造的设备。
钢铝关税25%:2024年5月14日,拜登总统宣布,对战略性行业加征关税,这些行业包括钢铁和铝。华府启动《贸易法》第301条款,从2024年开始对钢铁和铝产品的关税从目前的0% - 7.5%提高至25%。
半导体关税50%、电动车100%:白宫划定的战略性行业也包括半导体、电动车以及太阳能产品。半导体产品的关税将于2025年从25%提高至50%。电动汽车的关税将于2024年从25%提高至100%。锂电池以及电池部件的关税从2024年其从7.5%提高至25%。太阳能电池板的关税将在2024年从25%提高到50%。
起重机、医用口罩手套加征至25%关税:此外,港口起重机的关税从今年起从0%提高至25%;注射器和针头的关税将从0%提高至50%。一些医疗用品如呼吸器和口罩,其关税将从0%-7.5%提高至25%。橡胶医用和外科手套的关税将在2026年从7.5%提高至25%。
哪些法案还在路上?:美国国会夏季休假结束后,众议院将率先讨论并通过一系列涉华法案,其中包括降低对中国生物技术的依赖、禁止中国电动汽车和无人机、限制中国公民购买农田以及恢复一个旨在消除剽窃美国知识产权的项目。美国民主共和两党在“不能输给对手中国”的问题上保持高度一致。众议院投票过后,还要按程序再经参议院表决通过。

据法新社报道,英伟达本周二在一份声明中表示,“在提交再次销售英伟达H20 GPU的申请”,“美国政府已经向英伟达保证将授予许可,英伟达希望尽快开始交付。”

今年5月在台北国际电脑展(Computex)上,黄仁勋赞扬美国总统特朗普取消部分人工智能芯片出口管制的决定,并称先前拜登政府的管制规则是失败的。

在此次中国之行前,黄仁勋也先与特朗普会面。据美媒CNBC、彭博社等多家媒体报道,两人7月10日在白宫会面。不过迄今没有两人这次会晤的具体内容传出。

今年以来第三次访华

黄仁勋在上周末开启了他本次中国行。据《金融时报》等媒体报道,黄仁勋此行会与中国高层会面,并计划出席7月16日在北京举行的第三届中国国际供应链促进博览会。

中国媒体也报道了黄仁勋周三参加链博会的消息,并注意到黄仁勋周一(7月14日)在北京35度高温下穿着标志性皮衣与雷军微笑合影的社媒照片。在报道中,中国官媒特别强调这是黄仁勋今年以来第三次访华,此前两次分别在今年1月和4月。

黄仁勋今年4月17日突然到访北京,与中国国际贸易促进委员会会长任鸿斌举行会谈。据中国官媒报道,黄仁勋在会谈中表示,中国是英伟达非常重要的市场,希望继续与中国合作。

另外,黄仁勋也在今年1月现身中国多个城市,同样表达了继续和中国合作的愿望。

中国是英伟达至关重要的市场,但近年来,美国的出口限制让英伟达在中国市场面临来自华为等本土企业的激烈竞争。

在黄仁勋开启本次中国之行前,来自美国共和党以及民主党的美国参议员向其发出警告,敦促黄仁勋在中国期间避免与那些同中国军方、中国情报机构关系密切的企业代表接触,还要求黄仁勋避开那些受到美国芯片出口管制的中国公司,以防破坏美国芯片出口管制。

DW中文有Instagram!欢迎搜寻dw.chinese,看更多深入浅出的图文与影音报道。

© 2025年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。

相关图集:中国芯片产业发展至今,赢了吗?

"中国芯":“中国芯”的提法在2000年代初就已开始传播。背景是中国在芯片方面长期依赖进口,缺乏自主研发能力的状况,令领导层对半导体领域的科技依赖性感到担忧,计划提升芯片设计、制造封测和装备材料产业链能级。在新的产业政策推动下,出现了一批集成电路研发创新机构。
浮夸造假:2006年的“汉芯”造假丑闻,给这场轰轰烈烈的科技创新运动蒙上了一层阴影。上海交通大学微电子学院院长、汉芯科技有限公司总经理陈进被查出在负责研制“汉芯”系列芯片过程中存在严重的造假和欺骗行为。这一事件所凸显的急功近利的浮夸现象,始终伴随中国芯片产业的发展。
“大基金”投入巨资:2014年,中国国务院公布了《国家集成电路产业发展推进纲要》,成立扶持芯片产业的“大基金”。 第一期募资1387亿元,2019年二期募资2041.5亿元,2023年推出的第三期规模扩大至3000亿元。受资助的公司包括中芯国际和长江存储等龙头企业。但一些分析人士指该基金主要在幕后运作,投资标准不够透明;此外技术创新的进展可能被夸大,许多投资未能取得成果。
为了不被“卡脖子”:2020年以来,美国逐步扩大对中国的芯片制裁,并联手日本、荷兰等国,更大范围封锁半导体制造设备输入中国,例如荷兰ASML公司生产的极紫外线(EUV)光刻机。中国欲实现半导体自给自足的意愿更加迫切。在响应习近平号召解决"卡脖子"技术问题的“造芯”运动中,一再出现资金使用不当和烂尾项目。2022年的芯片产业反腐风暴中,多名芯片大企业高管被调查。
华为、中芯实现突破?:2023年8月,被美国“断供”芯片的华为推出新款手机Mate 60 Pro (图)。专业机构拆解分析判断该手机使用的是华为海思设计、中芯国际(SMIC)制造的“麒麟9000s”7纳米芯片。虽然在去年就有报道称中芯“制造”出了7纳米芯片,但业界人士分析,这次仍是通过14纳米制程重复曝光生产出7纳米芯片,而这种工艺决定了其产量和良品率不高,但成本高,尚达不到批量生产的要求。
改变游戏规则的新技术?:2023年9月底,香港《南华早报》报道,中国科学家计划构建一个由粒子加速器驱动的巨型芯片工厂。这项新技术如果成功,将有可能使中国在半导体芯片行业中超越美国的制裁,走上芯片自产的道路。报道称,这一雄心勃勃的项目突显了中国在科技创新方面的决心,并预示着半导体行业可能出现的巨大转变。但中国整体经济面临的巨大下行压力,也将给芯片科研进行融资的过程带来了不小的阻碍。
道阻且长:依靠自己的力量建立先进的芯片产业链需要巨大投入,但又非仅靠资金就能实现。财经专栏作家刘远举曾在FT中文网撰文指出,“芯片行业仅仅跟随性发展,就涉及巨大的投资。若要站在世界领先水平,更需要大量的研发投入,这些研发投入大、见效慢、周期长、且充满风险。这需要给企业家以长远而稳定的预期;建立完善的知识产权保护体系;透明、公开的科研体系,远非一蹴而就之事。”

中国经济上半年增长5.3% 下半年面临更大挑战

德才
2025-07-15T09:51:33.385Z
中国政策科学研究会经济政策委员会副主任徐洪才认表示,强劲的外贸数据可能提前释放了需求,使得下半年面临更大挑战。

(德国之声中文网)中国国家统计局周二(7月15日)公布的数据显示,今年第二季度中国经济同比增长5.2%,略低于第一季度的5.4%

德新社指出,这一表现使得上半年中国国内生产总值(GDP)同比增长达到5.3%,有望实现政府设定的“5%左右”的全年增长目标。

经济学家们表示,尽管中美之间持续存在贸易紧张局势,但这些数据显示出中国经济的韧性。5月中旬,中美代表达成休战协议,暂停了互征关税的升级,为进一步谈判创造条件。

分析人士指出,出口商在当前的谈判窗口期内加快发货节奏,而消费则受到政府刺激政策的提振。

中国政策科学研究会经济政策委员会副主任徐洪才表示,这种增长可能难以持续,强劲的外贸数据可能提前释放了需求,使得下半年面临更大挑战。

欧亚集团中国区总监王丹说,“房地产危机仍是地方政府财政的一个中期主要拖累因素”。通缩风险和疲软的消费者信心继续对国内需求构成压力。

中国政府也对电动车、太阳能和电池等行业日益激烈的价格战表示担忧。中国国家主席习近平在6月底的一次高层会议上呼吁遏制“无序竞争”。

分析人士指出,国家补贴和产量目标推动了产能过剩,供给超过需求,企业利润被严重挤压。

中国国家统计局副局长盛来运承认,中国仍将面临外部不确定性和国内压力,但他表示,上半年的强劲表现为全年奠定了坚实的基础。

根据欧洲应用经济研究中心(Prognos research institute)的数据,尽管全球局势紧张,中国企业目前在全球出口市场的份额约为德国企业的两倍。中国出口占全球总量的16%,而德国为8%。

专家预测,随着美国不断加强贸易壁垒,中德之间在全球市场上的竞争将日益激烈。

(德新社)

DW中文有Instagram!欢迎搜寻dw.chinese,看更多深入浅出的图文与影音报道。

© 2025年德国之声版权声明:本文所有内容受到著作权法保护,如无德国之声特别授权,不得擅自使用。任何不当行为都将导致追偿,并受到刑事追究。

World's 'oldest' marathon runner dies at 114 in hit-and-run

Pardeep Sharma/BBC Singh seen at his home in Beas Pind, next to a photo of him wearing a medalPardeep Sharma/BBC
BBC Punjabi met Singh in June at his ancestral home in Beas Pind village in Punjab state

Fauja Singh, a British-Indian man believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car in India at the age of 114.

Police say Singh was crossing a road in the village where he was born in Punjab when an unidentified vehicle hit him. Locals took him to hospital, where he died.

Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100. He began running at 89 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.

His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.

The hit and run happened on Monday as the centenarian was walking in his birth village, Beas Pind, near Jalandhar.

"A search is under way, and the accused will be caught soon," said Harvinder Singh, a top district police officer.

As news of the death broke, tributes poured in.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him an "exceptional athlete with incredible determination".

Harmander Singh, Fauja Singh's coach at Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death in a statement posted to the running club.

The statement said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India.

"His running club and charity Sikhs In The City will be devoting all of its events until the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge on Sunday 29 March 2026 to celebrate his life of success and achievements.

"We will be doubling the efforts to raise funds to building the Fauja Singh Clubhouse on the route in Ilford where he used to train."

When the BBC met Singh in June in Beas Pind, he was agile and active, walking several miles every day.

"I still go for walks around the village to keep my legs strong. A person has to take care of his own body," he said.

A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh clocked several milestones during his running career, including reportedly becoming the first centenarian to complete a full marathon in 2011 in Toronto.

However, his claim of being the world's oldest marathon runner was not recognised by Guinness World Records as he could not show a birth certificate from 1911. The BBC reported at the time that Singh's British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

His trainer, Harmander Singh, said that birth certificates were not made in India at the time Singh was born.

Guinness World Records officials said they would have loved "to give him the record", but that they could only "accept official birth documents created in the year of the birth".

As a young boy growing up in Punjab, Singh was teased by people in his village as his legs were weak and he could not walk properly until the age of five.

"But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history," he told BBC Punjabi in June.

Before he turned 40, Singh, a farmer, had lived through the turbulence of both the World Wars and experienced the trauma of Partition.

"In my youth, I didn't even know the word 'marathon' existed," Singh told BBC Punjabi. "I never went to school, nor was I involved in any kind of sports. I was a farmer and spent most of my life in the fields."

He first took to running to cope with grief.

After the death of his wife Gian Kaur in the early 1990s, he moved to London to live with his eldest son Sukhjinder. But during a visit to India, he witnessed his younger son Kuldeep's death in an accident which left him devastated.

Overtaken by grief, Singh would spend hours sitting near the spot where his son had been cremated. Concerned villagers advised his family to take him back to the UK.

Back in Ilford in London, during one of his visits to the gurdwara, Singh met a group of elderly men who would go on runs together. He also met Harmander Singh, who would go on to become his coach.

"Had I not met Harmander Singh, I wouldn't have got into marathon running," he said in June.

Saurabh Duggal/BBC Pictured Singh's blue and white running shoes covered, worn out from use Saurabh Duggal/BBC
Singh's blue-and-white running shoes which have his name on them

Singh made his debut at the London Marathon in 2000, a month shy of turning 89. He participated through a Golden Bond entry - a system where charities pre-purchase a fixed number of spots for a fee. He chose to run for BLISS, a charity that supports premature infants. His tagline: "Oldest running for the youngest! May they live as long as him."

Singh says that before the run, he was told by event officials that he could only wear a patka (headgear worn by many Sikh boys and men) and not a turban.

"I refused to run without my turban. Eventually, the organisers allowed me to run with it, and for me, that's my biggest achievement," he said.

He finished the race in six hours and 54 minutes, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.

By his third successive appearance at the London marathon, he had shaved off nine minutes from his previous best.

In 2003, at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, he bettered his timing by an astonishing one hour and five minutes, completing the race in five hours and 40 minutes.

"I don't remember my timings; it is my coach, Harmander Singh, who keeps the record of all my timings. But whatever I have achieved is all because of his training, and I sincerely followed his schedule," Singh said in June.

"In London, he used to make me run uphill, and because of that, I kept on improving," he added. "Almost after every training session in London, I used to go to the gurdwara, where my diet was taken care of. Everyone there motivated me to run long distances."

Singh shot to international fame in 2003 when Adidas signed him for their Nothing Is Impossible advertising campaign which also featured legends such as Muhammad Ali.

In 2005, he was invited by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan to participate in the inaugural Lahore Marathon. A year later, in 2006, he received a special invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to visit Buckingham Palace.

Among the many mementos and certificates displayed at Singh's home in Punjab is a framed photograph of him with the Queen.

Pardeep Sharma/BBC A wall with Singh's certificates and photos. Pardeep Sharma/BBC
Mementoes and certificates on the wall at Singh's house in Punjab

He continued to compete in marathons well into his 100s and earned the nickname "Turbaned Tornado". Most of his earnings from endorsements went directly to charitable foundations.

"I was the same Fauja Singh before I entered the world of running - but running gave my life a mission and brought me global recognition," he recalled.

In 2013, he participated in his last long-distance competitive race in Hong Kong, completing a 10km run in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He credited his health and longevity to a simple lifestyle and disciplined diet.

"Eating less, running more, and staying happy - that is the secret behind my longevity. This is my message to everyone," he said in June.

In his final years, Singh divided his time between India, where his younger son lives, and the UK.

When the BBC met him in June, he was hoping to visit London again soon to meet his family and coach.

British MP Preet Kaur Gill shared a photo of herself with him on X, writing: "A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me."

Jas Athwal MP said Singh "inspired millions across the world". He wrote on X: "His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever."

Additional reporting by Pardeep Sharma

The undersea tunnel network that could transform Shetland's fortunes

BBC A grey car enters a tunnel, driving past red "no pedestrian" and "no cyclist" roadsigns. The tunnel disappears into a grassy hillside. A blue and white radio station information sign reads "FM 100.0".BBC
The 18 islands which make up the Faroes are connected by 23 tunnels, four of which run below the sea

The Faroese prime minister says Shetland could boost growth and revitalise island life by following his country in replacing ageing ferries with undersea tunnels.

Shetland Islands Council says it is pushing ahead with plans to build tunnels to four outlying isles in the archipelago including Unst, the most northerly place in the UK.

"I think we have learned in the Faroe Islands that investment in infrastructure is a good investment," Aksel Johannesen told BBC News.

Shetland Islands Council says its multi-million pound project is likely to be funded by borrowing money and paying it back through tolls, potentially providing a new transport model for other Scottish islands.

Faroese prime minister Aksel Johannesen pictured in an office with two blurred out gold-framed paintings hanging on a white wall behind him. He has brown hair combed to the side and is clean-shaven. He is looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. He is wearing a black shirt and a checked blazer.
The Faroese prime minister Aksel Johannesen told BBC News tunnels had helped to grow the population and the economy of the archipelago

Critics say politicians in Scotland have wasted years talking about tunnels while the Faroes, nearly 200 miles further out into the Atlantic, have actually built them.

"It is frustrating," says Anne Anderson of salmon producer Scottish Sea Farms, which employs nearly 700 people in Scotland, including just under 300 in Shetland.

The island chain produces a quarter of all Scottish salmon - the UK's most valuable food export with international sales of £844m in 2024.

"Ten years ago Scottish salmon used to have 10 per cent of the global market. Nowadays we're slipping ever closer to five per cent," adds Ms Anderson, who blames that slide, in part, on a lack of investment in public infrastructure .

She agrees that the UK should look to the Faroes for inspiration.

"Identify what works well for them and then just copy and paste and let's get moving," urges Ms Anderson.

A windswept Anne Anderson photographed from the chest up  in a marina setting. She has grey hair - tied back -  blue-rimmed glasses and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a blue jacket with a "Scottish Sea Farms" logo on the left hand side.
Anne Anderson of Scottish Sea Farms says politicians should get moving

They have been building tunnels in the Faroes since the 1960s.

The 18 islands which make up the self-governing nation under the sovereignty of Denmark are connected by 23 tunnels, four of which run below the sea.

More are under construction.

Most dramatic is a 7.1 mile (11.4km) tunnel which connects the island of Streymoy to two sides of a fjord on the island of Eysturoy.

It includes the world's only undersea roundabout.

At its deepest point it is 187m (614ft) below the waves and has halved the driving time between the capital Tórshavn and the second biggest town, Klaksvik.

Photograph of vehicles streaking past a roundabout in a tunnel. The tunnel has a green/ blue backdrop and black silhouettes of figures on it.
A tunnel which connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy includes the world's only undersea roundabout, nicknamed the jellyfish

Speaking in his grass-roofed office looking out over a busy harbour in Tórshavn, Johannesen says tunnels helped to grow the population and the economy of the archipelago, which is home to some 54,000 people, in contrast to Shetland's 23,000.

"It's about ambition," says tunnel builder Andy Sloan, whose company worked on part of the Faroese tunnel project.

He adds the islands have led the world "in connecting an archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic through blood, sweat and tears – and focus.

"They have delivered a remarkable piece of infrastructure," says Mr Sloan, who is executive vice-president of engineering firm COWI.

It is now advising Shetland Islands Council on the technicalities and financing of tunnels.

The Faroese tunnels were constructed using a technique known as drill and blast – where holes are drilled in rock, explosives are dropped in, and the rubble is then cleared away – which Mr Sloan says could also be used in Scotland.

"Without doubt, Shetland can copy what has been achieved in these islands," he adds.

Head and shoulder shot of a smiling Andy Sloan, who is bald, smiling at the camera. He is wearing a navy suit jacket, navy half-zip jumper and a white shirt with the top button open. Green shrubbery is visible in the background.
Tunnel builder Andy Sloan worked on the Faroese tunnels

Prof Erika Anne Hayfield, dean of the Faculty of History and Social Sciences at the University of the Faroe Islands, says the tunnels have delivered significant benefits.

"People can live and thrive in smaller settlements," while still participating fully in island life and commuting to "the central labour market" in Tórshavn, she explains.

"In the long term, in terms of demography, social sustainability, a lot of people on islands believe that it is necessary," adds Prof Hayfield.

But she said the costs of some tunnels had been controversial, with some Faroese arguing that they are being built at the expense of investing in schools and hospitals.

Drone footage of Tórshavn marina, with government buildings, some of which have grass roofs, visible in the foreground. A number of boats can also be seen in the picture
The capital, Tórshavn, is a shorter commute for islanders since the construction of the tunnel network

Shetland's main town, Lerwick, may be closer to Tórshavn than it is to Edinburgh – and closer to Copenhagen than London – but advocates of tunnels insist the islands are not a remote backwater but an advanced economy constrained by poor infrastructure.

The archipelago of 100 islands at the confluence of the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean boasts the UK's only spaceport and a thriving fishing industry.

"We land more fish in Shetland than we do in the whole of England, Northern Ireland and Wales," says council leader Emma Macdonald.

"Tunnels could be incredibly transformational," she continues.

Macdonald adds: "We're really excited about the opportunity."

The 20th Century oil and gas boom brought Shetland riches but the islands have since embraced the shift to renewable energy and are home to the UK's most productive onshore wind farm.

"Shetland's really integral to Scotland and to the wider UK," says Macdonald.

The council has authorised a £990,000 feasibility study into building tunnels to four islands – Unst, Yell, Bressay and Whalsay.

It has not yet published an estimated cost for construction.

Head and shoulders shot of Elizabeth Johnson, who has short grey hair, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a grey t-shirt and a darker grey jacket with a navy "Saxavord UK Space Port" patch. She is standing on a shoreline and the sea is visible under grey skies in the background
Elizabeth Johnson says tunnels would "enhance the economic viability of the island"

"Tunnels would really open up this island for businesses," says Elizabeth Johnson, external affairs manager of Saxavord Spaceport on Unst.

She adds that they would "enhance the economic viability of the island".

But with neither the Scottish nor UK governments volunteering to pay for Shetland's tunnels, the Faroese funding model of borrowing paid back by tolls looks likely to be adopted.

"I think people recognise that there is probably a need for tolling and I think people understand that," says Macdonald.

She adds: "They already have to pay to go on the ferries."

At present the council runs ferry services to nine islands, carrying around 750,000 passengers each year on 12 vessels at a cost of £23m per year.

The average age of the fleet is 31.5 years, costs have risen sharply in the past decade, and some routes are struggling to meet demand for vehicle places.

Hebridean and Clyde ferries, off the west of Scotland, run by Scottish government-owned Caledonian MacBrayne, are also ageing and have been beset by problems.

Drone shot of a white car preparing to enter a tunnel in the Faroes. The tunnel has been constructed under green fields and some sheep are also visible in the image.
The 18 islands which make up the self-governing nation under the sovereignty of Denmark are connected by 23 tunnels

Mr Sloan says tunnels could provide more robust transport links for the west coast as well as the Northern Isles.

"Quite frankly, it can be repeated in Shetland, and not just Shetland, possibly elsewhere in Scotland."

Mr Sloan agrees that tolls are the most feasible funding option.

Tolls were abolished on the Skye Bridge in 2004 after a long-running campaign of non payment, and were scrapped on the Forth and Tay road bridges in 2008.

But Ms Johnson, of the Saxavord Spaceport, reckons Shetlanders would be happy to pay their way.

"I don't think anybody that I've spoken to would be against tolls," she says.

Vehicles streak past the two lanes in a tunnel either side of a yellow sign which reads: "Klaksvik"
Four tunnels in the Faroes run below the sea

Although there is no organised opposition to tunnels in Shetland some locals do express concern about whether they would change what it means to be an island.

Pat Burns runs the northernmost shop in the British Isles, The Final Checkout on Unst.

She was not convinced about tunnels at first, fearing that they would alter the nature of island life.

"I like the challenges of trying to get from A to B," she explains.

However after years of worrying about bad weather interrupting supplies for her shop and seeing tourists turned away because ferries are full, she has changed her mind.

"I was a wee bit iffy-iffy about it before," she says, "but now I realise that if Unst doesn't get a tunnel, the challenge is going to be too big."

World's 'oldest' marathon runner dies at 114 in hit-and-run crash

Pardeep Sharma/BBC Singh seen at his home in Beas Pind, next to a photo of him wearing a medalPardeep Sharma/BBC
BBC Punjabi met Singh in June at his ancestral home in Beas Pind village in Punjab state

Fauja Singh, a British-Indian man believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, has died after being hit by a car in India at the age of 114.

Police say Singh was crossing a road in the village where he was born in Punjab when an unidentified vehicle hit him. Locals took him to hospital, where he died.

Singh, a global icon, set records by running marathons across multiple age categories, including when he was over 100. He began running at 89 and ran nine full marathons between 2000 and 2013, when he retired.

His running club and charity, Sikhs In The City, said its upcoming events in Ilford, east London, where he had lived since 1992, would be a celebration of his life and achievements.

The hit and run happened on Monday as the centenarian was walking in his birth village, Beas Pind, near Jalandhar.

"A search is under way, and the accused will be caught soon," said Harvinder Singh, a top district police officer.

As news of the death broke, tributes poured in.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him an "exceptional athlete with incredible determination".

Harmander Singh, Fauja Singh's coach at Sikhs In The City, confirmed his death in a statement posted to the running club.

The statement said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our icon of humanity and powerhouse of positivity Fauja Singh has passed away in India.

"His running club and charity Sikhs In The City will be devoting all of its events until the Fauja Singh Birthday Challenge on Sunday 29 March 2026 to celebrate his life of success and achievements.

"We will be doubling the efforts to raise funds to building the Fauja Singh Clubhouse on the route in Ilford where he used to train."

When the BBC met Singh in June in Beas Pind, he was agile and active, walking several miles every day.

"I still go for walks around the village to keep my legs strong. A person has to take care of his own body," he said.

A torchbearer for the 2012 London Olympics, Singh clocked several milestones during his running career, including reportedly becoming the first centenarian to complete a full marathon in 2011 in Toronto.

However, his claim of being the world's oldest marathon runner was not recognised by Guinness World Records as he could not show a birth certificate from 1911. The BBC reported at the time that Singh's British passport showed his date of birth as being 1 April 1911, and that he had a letter from the Queen congratulating him on his 100th birthday.

His trainer, Harmander Singh, said that birth certificates were not made in India at the time Singh was born.

Guinness World Records officials said they would have loved "to give him the record", but that they could only "accept official birth documents created in the year of the birth".

As a young boy growing up in Punjab, Singh was teased by people in his village as his legs were weak and he could not walk properly until the age of five.

"But the same boy, once mocked for his weakness, went on to make history," he told BBC Punjabi in June.

Before he turned 40, Singh, a farmer, had lived through the turbulence of both the World Wars and experienced the trauma of Partition.

"In my youth, I didn't even know the word 'marathon' existed," Singh told BBC Punjabi. "I never went to school, nor was I involved in any kind of sports. I was a farmer and spent most of my life in the fields."

He first took to running to cope with grief.

After the death of his wife Gian Kaur in the early 1990s, he moved to London to live with his eldest son Sukhjinder. But during a visit to India, he witnessed his younger son Kuldeep's death in an accident which left him devastated.

Overtaken by grief, Singh would spend hours sitting near the spot where his son had been cremated. Concerned villagers advised his family to take him back to the UK.

Back in Ilford in London, during one of his visits to the gurdwara, Singh met a group of elderly men who would go on runs together. He also met Harmander Singh, who would go on to become his coach.

"Had I not met Harmander Singh, I wouldn't have got into marathon running," he said in June.

Saurabh Duggal/BBC Pictured Singh's blue and white running shoes covered, worn out from use Saurabh Duggal/BBC
Singh's blue-and-white running shoes which have his name on them

Singh made his debut at the London Marathon in 2000, a month shy of turning 89. He participated through a Golden Bond entry - a system where charities pre-purchase a fixed number of spots for a fee. He chose to run for BLISS, a charity that supports premature infants. His tagline: "Oldest running for the youngest! May they live as long as him."

Singh says that before the run, he was told by event officials that he could only wear a patka (headgear worn by many Sikh boys and men) and not a turban.

"I refused to run without my turban. Eventually, the organisers allowed me to run with it, and for me, that's my biggest achievement," he said.

He finished the race in six hours and 54 minutes, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.

By his third successive appearance at the London marathon, he had shaved off nine minutes from his previous best.

In 2003, at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, he bettered his timing by an astonishing one hour and five minutes, completing the race in five hours and 40 minutes.

"I don't remember my timings; it is my coach, Harmander Singh, who keeps the record of all my timings. But whatever I have achieved is all because of his training, and I sincerely followed his schedule," Singh said in June.

"In London, he used to make me run uphill, and because of that, I kept on improving," he added. "Almost after every training session in London, I used to go to the gurdwara, where my diet was taken care of. Everyone there motivated me to run long distances."

Singh shot to international fame in 2003 when Adidas signed him for their Nothing Is Impossible advertising campaign which also featured legends such as Muhammad Ali.

In 2005, he was invited by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan to participate in the inaugural Lahore Marathon. A year later, in 2006, he received a special invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to visit Buckingham Palace.

Among the many mementos and certificates displayed at Singh's home in Punjab is a framed photograph of him with the Queen.

Pardeep Sharma/BBC A wall with Singh's certificates and photos. Pardeep Sharma/BBC
Mementoes and certificates on the wall at Singh's house in Punjab

He continued to compete in marathons well into his 100s and earned the nickname "Turbaned Tornado". Most of his earnings from endorsements went directly to charitable foundations.

"I was the same Fauja Singh before I entered the world of running - but running gave my life a mission and brought me global recognition," he recalled.

In 2013, he participated in his last long-distance competitive race in Hong Kong, completing a 10km run in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He credited his health and longevity to a simple lifestyle and disciplined diet.

"Eating less, running more, and staying happy - that is the secret behind my longevity. This is my message to everyone," he said in June.

In his final years, Singh divided his time between India, where his younger son lives, and the UK.

When the BBC met him in June, he was hoping to visit London again soon to meet his family and coach.

British MP Preet Kaur Gill shared a photo of herself with him on X, writing: "A truly inspiring man. His discipline, simple living, and deep humility left a lasting mark on me."

Jas Athwal MP said Singh "inspired millions across the world". He wrote on X: "His spirit and legacy of resilience will run on forever."

Additional reporting by Pardeep Sharma

Trump's pledge to send new weapons to Ukraine is a significant moment

Reuters File picture of a Patriot air missile system being fired during an exercise between US and Philippine troopsReuters
Additional Patriot missile batteries will give Kyiv a chance to expand protection against Russian attacks (file pic)

For the first time since returning to the White House, Donald Trump has pledged to make new weapons available to Ukraine.

Under a new deal, the US will sell weapons to Nato members who will then supply them to Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.

The president didn't give too many specifics about what he said was "billions of dollars' worth of military equipment". But when asked if the deal included Patriot air defence batteries and interceptor missiles, he replied "it's everything".

One European country has 17 Patriot systems and "a big portion" would soon be on the way to Ukraine, Trump said.

For Ukraine, a huge country that currently operates handful of batteries - perhaps as few as eight - this is a major step forward, giving Kyiv a chance to expand protection against Russian ballistic and cruise missiles.

Sitting beside the president, the Nato Secretary General, Mark Rutte, hinted at a bigger package.

"It's broader than Patriots," he said.

"It will mean that Ukraine can get its hands on really massive numbers of military equipment, both for air defence, but also missiles, ammunition..."

This is a significant moment.

Less than two weeks ago, there was horror in Kyiv at news that the Pentagon had suspended military shipments to Ukraine, including Patriots.

The decision-making surrounding that announcement remains unclear, but on Monday, Trump once again tried to make light if it, saying it had been made in the knowledge that this deal would be struck.

"We were pretty sure this was going to happen, so we did a little bit of a pause," the president said.

Now, thanks to some tortuous negotiations, many of them involving Rutte, the weapons can continue to flow without Washington picking up the tab.

"We're in for a lot of money," the president said, "and we just don't want to do it any more."

The deal is a personal triumph for Rutte, the "Trump whisperer", who has flattered and encouraged the president, in part by helping to secure a member-wide Nato commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defence.

As they sat side by side in the Oval Office, Rutte continued to flatter Trump, calling the latest deal "really big" and saying it was "totally logical" that European members of Nato pay for it.

Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, on the day President Trump announces a deal to get U.S. weapons to NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025.Reuters

A number of countries, he said, were lining up to participate, including the UK, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.

"And this is only the first wave," he said. "There will be more."

In a separate and rather characteristic development, Trump threatened Moscow with a new deadline: if Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire deal in the next 50 days, Russia and its trading partners will be hit with 100% secondary tariffs.

It's a novel approach, which Kyiv and members of the US congress have been urging for some time: pressure Russia by targeting countries that continue to buy Russian oil and gas, like China and India.

Trump's move comes as the US Senate continues to work on a bill that would impose much stiffer sanctions.

The president said the Senate bill, which envisages 500% secondary tariffs, could be "very good" but added that it was "sort of meaningless after a while because at a certain point it doesn't matter".

As always, the precise details of the president's threat remain somewhat vague.

But whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, Monday felt like something of a turning point. A US president finally moving away from his perplexing faith in Vladimir Putin, while still giving the Russian leader time to come to the negotiating table.

It's definitely not a return to Joe Biden's pledges to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes," but nor is it quite the neutral stance that has infuriated Ukraine and its western allies.

Trump appears to have guaranteed that the all-important US weapons pipeline to Ukraine will remain open for now – provided others pay for it.

But 50 days will feel like a very long time to Ukrainians, who are on the receiving end of near-nightly drone and missile bombardment.

Nothing Trump has done seems likely to put an immediate stop to this.

Who are the Sycamore Gap tree fellers and why did they do it?

Northumbria Police Daniel Graham is in the forefront of the shot with a ginger beard and wearing a cap. Behind him, Adam Carruthers is standing next to some tree felling equipment. He has fair hair, is in his 30s, wearing sunglasses and a grey top. He's looking at the equipment, not at the camera.Northumbria Police
Daniel Graham (left) and Adam Carruthers have never admitted chopping down the tree at Sycamore Gap

Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham are being sentenced later for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland. Who are they? And, given they have never admitted causing the destruction that shocked the world, what might have possessed them to do it?

Many people who knew the pair spoke to the BBC, but most requested anonymity.

Among them were neighbours in the quiet street in Carlisle where 39-year-old Daniel Graham grew up. They remember him as an "average kid" before his parents' separation - describing that as an event which "sent him off the rails."

His dad Michael took his own life in 2021, something Graham spoke about while giving evidence in court in relation to his struggles with poor mental health.

He was estranged from many members of his family, with one saying he would "fly off the handle at anything".

A street with semi-detached houses in what looks like a former council estate. The wide street has cars parked on the edge of the pavement on both sides. There are numerous two-storey houses with neat front gardens, hedges and fences.
Daniel Graham grew up on a residential street in Carlisle

For the last decade Graham lived and worked on a patch of land on the outskirts of Kirkandrews-upon-Eden, just outside Carlisle.

He called it Millbeck Stables and ran his company, DM Graham Groundworks, from the site on a secluded lane, nestled among large country homes.

Journalist Kevin Donald described the plot as "a strange little shanty".

"It's got a caravan, horses on the land and pillars at the entrance with lions on the top," he said.

'An odd-bod'

Graham erected a series of buildings, a stable block, horse shelter and storage unit, gaining planning permission for some of them.

He lived on site in a static caravan, largely hidden behind big metal gates which included his initials.

Harold Bowron, chairman of the village's Parish Hall Committee, said Graham was "a man of mystery, a bit of an odd-bod".

"There were these black gates and then a tall fence all round the site with black plastic sheeting so you couldn't see in, but there were lights on all night.

"His lorry is still there. You can see in now because all the plastic has come down."

White pillars sit either side of black gates and on the white pillars are a pair of lions. Behind there is a large green shed and a lorry. Also visible is a white van.
Daniel Graham lived in a static caravan on a plot of land near Carlisle

A planning application for Graham to be allowed to live on the site was rejected in April 2023, five months before the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down.

He had not been paying council tax and among the comments on the application was a claim he had displayed "dominant and oppressive" behaviour.

"When news came out he'd been arrested, we weren't surprised," Mr Bowron said.

"Everyone was saying 'oh yes that strange bloke'."

In court, the jury heard that tree felling was part of Graham's business and he owned three or four chainsaws.

Adam Carruthers helped him with that work, and the court was told the pair were close friends.

A picture of Adam Carruthers childhood home which is a terraced house with pebbledash and a central red door. There is no pavement so from the door there is a small, walled space which steps straight on to the road. Two vans are parked outside and a silver Volvo is driving towards the camera through a narrow gap.
Adam Carruthers lived in the centre of Wigton, Cumbria, for many years

Carruthers grew up in Wigton, a market town in Cumbria with a history stretching back to medieval times.

His parents still live there and town councillor Chris Scott described it as a place where families put down roots and stay for generations.

Scott did not know Carruthers personally, but runs a social media site for the town and remembers a "curious silence" when he was arrested.

"People weren't discussing it all, which surprised me because it was such a big story at the time."

The Nelson Thomlinson secondary school taken from outside the gates shows the entrance with concrete posts on either side. The school's name is on a green sign and in the background the low school buildings which have pyramid roofs.
Adam Carruthers' childhood friends described him as quiet and "a bit of a loner" when at Nelson Thomlinson School

A childhood friend of Carruthers said he was "a bit of an outcast" but also the last person he would expect to have been involved in the felling of the tree.

His arrest was "the talk" of their school friendship group.

"Growing up we were the good kids," the friend said. "We couldn't get our heads around it. You would never ever think he would do something like that."

Carruthers went to Nelson Thomlinson School where another fellow pupil described him as a "bit of a loner".

"He always kept to himself and in classes he wouldn't talk. Teachers would try and get him to talk, and fail."

At the time of his arrest in October 2023, Carruthers had recently become a father for the second time and was living in a caravan with his partner at Kirkbride Airfield.

Graham and Carruthers met in 2021 when the latter, who was a mechanic, repaired a Land Rover belonging to Graham's father so it could be used for his funeral.

Graham called Carruthers his "best pal" and paid him to help him on jobs, splitting the cash evenly.

But their friendship splintered as the trial unfolded, with Graham blaming Carruthers who, in turn, said he had no idea who did it.

PA Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham are walking into court and are smartly dressed in suits with a tie but also wearing balaclavas and sunglasses PA
Academics argue Carruthers and Graham may have been seeking attention by cutting down the tree

In the absence of any declared motive, could interactions between the pair hold clues to what drove them to take a chainsaw to one of the most beloved trees in the UK?

After the felling, they exchanged messages talking about the scale of the reporting of the story.

In one voicenote, Daniel Graham exclaimed: "It's gone viral, it is worldwide."

Newcastle University's Bethany Usher, who specialises in crime journalism, is among those who believe the pair were craving attention.

"Social media has completely changed the way we view ourselves, taking video of ourselves doing things is so part of our lived experience," she said.

"What became clear from the trial is that they enjoyed the attention they got worldwide.

"It's like they were saying 'I'm someone, I have got the attention of people', and they forgot that what they were doing was providing evidence for the police.

"The truth is they knew the tree was special, but they were trying to show they counted more."

'Pleasure in grief'

Dr Philip Stone from the University of Lancashire, who studies dark tourism where visitors travel to sites of death, brutality and terror, said the pair may have "enjoyed watching the distress they had caused from such spiteful, wanton ecological vandalism".

"To use the German psychology phrase schadenfreude, some people take a pleasure in other's people's misfortune and getting a sense of perverted pleasure from the response from that.

"It is as though they are thinking 'Yeh, I'm going to get my 15 minutes of fame, but I'm also going to get pleasure in seeing other people's grief'."

Hayley Graham-Hardy Hayley Graham-Hardy is standing side on with her hands to her face wearing black trousers and a white top below the Sycamore Gap tree which stands with Hadrian's Wall behind. Lee Graham-Hardy is on one knee proposing to her. He's wearing a back top and trouser.Hayley Graham-Hardy
Hayley and Lee Graham-Hardy got engaged at Sycamore Gap

Among those hurt by the loss of something both very public and personal was Hayley Graham-Hardy.

She got engaged at the Sycamore Gap tree and, after her wedding, she and her husband Lee posed for their photographs there.

"Strong, resilient always there, the tree symbolised what we wanted our marriage to be," she said.

The couple had hoped there had been more to the felling than Carruthers and Daniel having "a bit of a laugh" and it "stung" to find out that seemed to be their only motive.

"They sent messages to each other about someone not having the 'minerals' to do what they did," she said.

"I'd like to say to them, 'you guys haven't got the minerals to own up to what you did and I hope that sticks with you in prison'."

Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.

Related internet links

Would Europe Actually Retaliate Against Trump’s Tariffs?

European Union officials have drawn up plans to impose levies on American imports, but questions abound about whether they would go through with them.

© Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters

Shipping containers at a port in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. European Union officials say that if President Trump follows through on his tariff threats, it could upend trans-Atlantic trade.

PBS and NPR’s Last-Ditch Fight to Save Funding

As a vote to cut more than $500 million per year in federal funding nears, stations are making their pitches to lawmakers, listeners and “Viewers Like You.”

© Maansi Srivastava for The New York Times

Paula Kerger, the chief executive of PBS, at its headquarters in Arlington, Va. She has been promoting a campaign to save federal funding for public media.

Democrats Are Workshopping New Tactics After Losses of 2024

Among the ideas being promoted: knocking on every single door in a House district and awarding cash prizes for the most effective new ways to reach voters.

© Kristian Thacker for The New York Times

Door knocking — both where to do it and whether it is still effective in a digital age — is being studied by Democratic strategists to identify what went wrong in 2024.

Blazes in Northern Ireland Recall an Old Message: You Are Not Welcome Here

A bonfire topped with an effigy of a migrant boat. Homes set alight. During the Troubles, similar tactics were used to target Irish Catholics in the territory.

© Paul Faith/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A fire set in the streets during an anti-immigrant riot last month in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Violence there erupted after two boys were charged with the attempted oral rape of a teenage girl.

The D.E.I. Industry, Scorned by the White House, Turns to ‘Safer’ Topics

To avoid government scrutiny, companies are asking for fewer trainings focused on race and gender and more on neurodivergence and generational differences.

© Tamas Paczai for The New York Times

“If you have something being billed as a generational differences training,” said Arin Reeves, who has been a D.E.I. consultant for 26 years, “it is less likely to raise eyebrows.”

賴清德傳將訪巴拉圭、過境美國 北京:反對「竄訪」

null 周子馨
2025-07-15T08:55:21.121Z
消息人士稱,台灣總統賴清德即將在今年8月出訪中南美洲友邦,期間將過境美國

(德國之聲中文網)根據路透社報導,巴拉圭總統貝尼亞(Santiago Pena)週一(7月14日)在該國首都亞松森的一場雙邊投資會議上表示:「我們懷著期待與滿滿的熱情,準備在30天後迎接賴總統的到來。」

貝尼亞補充說:「這是為了向世界展示,小國也有能力成為全球的重要參與者。」據悉,台灣外交部長林佳龍也出席了這場會議。巴拉圭是台灣僅有的12個邦交國之一,也是台灣在南美洲唯一一個邦交國。

台灣媒體「聯合新聞網」週二引述消息人士報導,賴清德將在下個月出訪台灣的中南美洲邦交國,分別為巴拉圭、瓜地馬拉與貝里斯,期間將過境美國紐約及德州達拉斯。

台灣總統府未證實相關報導,稱目前「沒有相關說明」,如果有確定安排會適時對外公布;台灣外交部稱,目前沒有元首出訪的相關資訊;美國國務院亦未回應。

中國外交部發言人林劍週二在例行記者會中回應,美方必須嚴肅考慮台灣問題對於中美關係的敏感性,應謹慎處理,並說「中國一貫反對台灣領導人以任何形式、任何藉口『竄訪』美國的行為」。

自今年初美國總統川普就任以來,賴清德尚未過境或正式訪問美國。不過他在去年底前往太平洋地區時,曾經過境夏威夷關島

相关图集:台湾正副总统的过境外交

往返巴拉圭途中「低调」过境:2023年8月,台湾副总统赖清德前往巴拉圭参与新任总统就任典礼,去程过境美国纽约,回程则短暂停留旧金山。赖清德身为民进党党主席,也是下届总统选举的热门候选人,他此行保持「低调」、未安排与美国国会议员见面,但仍引发中国官方强烈不满。中国外交部发表声明谴责赖清德「窜美」,称其「顽固坚持『台独』分裂立场,是彻头彻尾的『麻烦制造者』」。台湾外交部则回应称中国无权干涉民主国家正常交往,没有理由过度反应。
过境美国 会晤麦卡锡:台湾总统蔡英文2023年3月底至4月初访问拉美邦交国,途中顺道停留美国纽约和洛杉矶,并且与美国众议院议长麦卡锡在洛杉矶见面,这也是几十年来在美国领土会见台湾领导人的最高层级美国政治人物。当时中国外交部对此批评道:「针对美台勾连的严重错误行径,中方将采取坚决有力措施捍卫国家主权和领土完整。」据华府智库战略暨国际研究中心(CSIS)统计,虽然台湾总统自1994年就有过境美国纪录,但在蔡英文任内,停留美国的时间明显更长,且她每次访问都会过夜,参与的活动也更丰富。
路途遥远 必然经停:蔡英文总统并非首次利用过境美国的机遇与美国高层开展互动。台湾为数不多的邦交国中,许多都位于拉美,离东亚地区路途遥远,航程往往比经乃至突破普通民航飞机的极限。因此,台湾领导人出访拉美,通常都会经停美国。图为2017年蔡英文过境夏威夷珍珠港。
三角关系风向标:台湾领导人在过境美国期间受到什么样的待遇、与谁会晤,自然也成为了台美、中美、两岸关系的风向标。图为2018年3月,蔡英文在加州里根总统图书馆与美国新墨西哥州长马丁内兹会面。
足迹遍布全美 独缺首都:自2016年上任总统以来,蔡英文过境的美国城市包括纽约、迈阿密、休斯顿、丹佛、旧金山、洛杉矶等。不过,台湾领导人从来没有在任内到过美国首都华盛顿。图为2019年7月,蔡英文抵达纽约时与前来机场的台湾侨民合影。
美国专门修法:台湾的过境外交始于1994年。时任总统李登辉借访问拉美之机,经停夏威夷,但是美国为了避免激怒中国,只允许机上人员上厕所、加油,但是不予“过境签证”。后来,美国专门为此修改法律,并且在1995年允许李登辉过境。图为李登辉总统1995年6月在纽约州雪城汉考克国际机场发表演讲,多名国会参议员出席。
私人行程 官方礼遇:李登辉的这次过境,是以“私人访问”的名义,受邀前往其母校康奈尔大学进行演讲。不过美方全程予以礼遇,这也触怒了北京,间接引发了之后的台海飞弹危机。
“麻烦制造者”不受欢迎:陈水扁总统的美国过境待遇则相对较低。当时,在反恐等多个议题上需要中方协助的小布什政府,视独立色彩鲜明的陈水扁为“麻烦制造者”,其过境地点也时常被迫选择在阿拉斯加等偏远地区。甚至还发生过专机起飞后美方通知不予过境的事件。
马英九外交休兵:马英九2008年上台后,两岸关系、台美关系均明显好转,同时期的中美关系也相对较好,因此美方给予马英九的过境待遇同前任陈水扁相比也显著提高。北京与台北在马英九任内达成了“外交休兵”的默契,因此马英九在过境时相对低调,北京也对此鲜有抗议。不过当时在野的民进党则抨击马英九低调过境美国为“自我矮化”。

影響川普與習近平會晤?

由於從台灣前往中南美洲的距離遙遠,過去台灣總統出訪中南美洲友邦時,通常會在美國領土「過境停留」。北京的一貫立場是譴責台灣總統過境美國的行為,並表示堅決反對台灣與美國之間的任何互動。賴清德可能在8月出訪巴拉圭期間過境美國的消息,也被預期會激怒北京。

《南華早報》15日引述不具名人士說法指,美國有可能擔心這影響到川普與習近平的雙邊峰會,因此拒絕賴清德的過境計劃。該報導稱,有消息指美中領導人可能今年10月底或11月初在韓國舉行的APEC峰會期間,在韓國慶州或北京會晤。

美國前國安委員會成員、中國問題分析師穆恩(Jeffrey Moon)表示,賴清德的行程必須要非常謹慎處理,避免對中美峰會帶來任何負面影響。

穆恩指出,若賴清德維持過往台灣領導人過境美國的標準做法、不參加政治會議或發表政治言論,那可能就不會干擾到中美雙邊關係,「中方會密切關注他的言行」。

DW中文有Instagram!歡迎搜尋dw.chinese,看更多深入淺出的圖文與影音報導。

© 2025年德國之聲版權聲明:本文所有內容受到著作權法保護,如無德國之聲特別授權,不得擅自使用。任何不當行為都將導致追償,並受到刑事追究。



❌