A recent decision made by the US government has caused a big stir.
美国政府近期的一项决定引发了一场巨大轰动。

On April 16, the US Department of Commerce announced that it would impose a seven-year ban on China’s telecommunications-gear maker ZTE’s purchase of core US technologies, including computer chips.
4月16日，美国商务部宣布，禁止美国企业向中国电信设备制造商中兴通讯销售包括电脑芯片在内的元器件和技术，时间长达7年。

The ban is the latest development in the US government’s punishment of ZTE, after the company pleaded guilty in 2017 to violating US sanctions by shipping telecom equipment to Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Since then, ZTE has paid fines and penalties.
该项禁令是美国政府对中兴通讯进行处罚的最新举动，该公司于2017年承认违反美国对伊朗和朝鲜实施的出口禁令，向两国出口电信设备。自此，中兴通讯支付了罚款。

But US officials say the company has not kept its promise to discipline 35 employees, leading to their decision to ban ZTE.
但美国官员称该公司并未履行处罚35名相关员工的承诺，令他们决定对中兴通讯实施禁令。

In response, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it is ready to take necessary measures to safeguard the rights and interests of Chinese companies, and it urged the US to create a fair environment for all players.
中国商务部回应称随时准备采取必要措施，维护中国企业合法权益，并敦促美方回到国际贸易合作共赢的正确轨道上来。

On April 20, ZTE said it wouldn’t accept the US’ ban on the company, which it called “extremely unfair”, adding that the US has ignored its efforts to comply with the country’s export control laws and regulations.
4月20日，中兴通讯表示无法接受美国对公司实施的禁令，称其“极不公平”，并表示美方无视中兴通讯在遵循该国出口管制合规方面的艰苦努力。

The case triggered in-depth discussions focused on the urgency for China to support development of its own core technologies in the telecommunications industry.
此案引发了关于中国迫切需要支持电信行业核心技术发展的深度讨论。

In recent years, China has spent more than $200 billion on imported chips annually – more than the amount spent on crude oil (原油) imports – said Wang Zhihua, a microelectronics professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
近年来，中国每年进口超过2000亿美元的芯片 —— 远远超过石油的进口额，清华大学微电子学教授王志华表示。

For Hu Weiwu, who is in charge of Loongson, China’s first general-purpose microprocessor with intellectual property rights, this crisis could be turned into something positive.
在我国首个拥有知识产权的通用处理器 ——“龙芯”的负责人胡伟虎看来，这场危机或许具有积极作用。

“We can turn the ZTE crisis into an opportunity to raise public awareness of the importance of processors and ramp up our push to promote the use of China-developed chips,” Hu said.
“我们可以将中兴通讯危机转化为提高公众对处理器重要性的认识的机会，并加大力度推动使用中国开发的芯片，”胡伟武表示。

In fact, many efforts have already been made. In 2014, China set up a fund worth around 138 billion yuan to support promising local chip companies in an attempt to reduce its reliance on US chip giants such as Qualcomm and Intel.
事实上，我国（在这方面）已经做出了不少努力。2014年，中国成立了一个价值约1380亿元的基金，用于支持具有发展前景的本土芯片企业，试图减少我国对高通、英特尔等美国芯片巨头的依赖。

And more efforts will be made. “China will continue to reform and open up further. By making good use of technological resources both domestically and internationally, it will achieve independent innovation while benefiting the world,” commented People’s Daily. “The road is long, but the goal is attainable under diligent efforts.”
我国还会做出更多努力。“中国将继续扩大开放，努力用好国际国内两种科技资源，在与世界的互利共赢中实现自主创新，”《人民日报》评论道。“这条路很长，但只要用心做，就一定能实现目标。”