拜登稱,美國過去投資比重佔國內生產總值(GDP)2.7%,但現在只有0.7%。「當我們投資時我們是世界領袖,我不明白為甚麼我們搞不清這一點。」(When we were investing it we were the leader in the world. I don’t know why we don’t get this.)
拜登說到這裏更變得怒氣衝衝,不斷用手勢比劃:
「(美國是)其中一個為數不多,過去25年研發投資佔GDP比率下降的主要經濟體,下降!美利堅合眾國!那曾經領導世界!」
(One of the only few major economies in the world whose public investment in research and development has declined as a percentage of GDP in the last 25 years, declined! The United States of America! That led the world!)
拜登演講內第2次提及中國時,將基建問題扯上了中美制度競爭:
「你們是否覺得中國會等一下才投資數字基建和研究開發?我答應你他們不會等。他們相信美式民主制度太慢、太多局限、太分化,跟不上進度。我們不可承受證明他們正確。」
(Do you think China is waiting around to invest in this digital infrastructure or in research and development? I promise you they are not waiting. But they’re counting on American democracy to be too slow, too limited, and too divided to keep pace… We can’t afford to prove them right.)
對於拜登多次以中國來作比較,推動沒有直接關係的美國基建,美聯社較早前指出,利用競爭對手的進步來對美國國內警告施壓,要求增加基礎設施和研究支出,是美國經過冷戰考驗的策略。過去的美國總統推動發展本國高速公路系統、太空計劃和武器儲備時,都會劍指蘇聯。
(经济日报)

