地緣政治風險變數
S&P Global Ratings raised Taiwan’s sovereign credit rating to “AA” from “AA-”, while upgrading its outlook to “positive” from “stable” on robust economic growth.
標準普爾把台灣主權信用評等從AA-上調至AA，同時把展望從穩定上調至正向，因為經濟強勁成長。
sovereign(n.)君主;元首、主權國家(adj.)具有獨立主權的a sovereign nation 主權獨立的國家sovereign credit ratingoutlook(n.)展望robust(adj.)(人或動物)強壯的;茁壯的、(東西或系統)堅固的;耐用的
Taiwan’s export-oriented, tech-reliant economy has outperformed most countries during the COVID-19 pandemic on the back of high global demand for consumer electronics as well as information and communication technology products, the report said.
報告指出，在新冠肺炎疫情期間，由於全球對消費電子產品和資訊通信技術產品的需求不墜，台灣以出口為導向、依靠科技的經濟表現優於大多數國家。
export-oriented(adj.)以出口為導向oriented(adj.)以…為目標的;以…為導向的a profit-oriented organization 以獲利為目的的機構reliant(adj.)依賴的;依靠的be reliant on~仰賴;依賴outperform(v.)超過;勝過;比…做得好on the back of 由於;因為
As a result of early and effective prevention, Taiwan has successfully controlled the COVID-19 pandemic and avoided a lockdown.
由於及早有效防控，台灣成功控制疫情，避免封城。
as a result of 由於lockdown(n.)封城
Taiwan’s strong monetary flexibility enhances its ability to weather major external shocks, keeping inflation among the lowest in Asia, the credit rating agency said.
標準普爾表示，台灣貨幣政策極具彈性增強了抵禦重大外部衝擊的能力，也讓台灣的通膨率名列亞洲最低水準。
monetary flexibility貨幣彈性monetary(adj.)貨幣的;金融的monetary policy貨幣政策enhance(v.)提高;增加;增強weather(v.)度過(難關)weather the recession度過經濟衰退
S&P said the positive outlook reflected expectations that Taiwan’s economy would maintain good growth in the medium term, benefited by strong external demand for electronics exports.
標準普爾表示，信評展望正向反映外界預期台灣經濟在中期會保持良好成長，受益於對電子出口的強勁外部需求。
“Taiwan’s effective response to COVID-19, robust net external asset position and competitive private sector enabled economic growth to accelerate in 2020 despite the global pandemic,” it said.
報告表示：「台灣疫情因應措施奏效，淨外部資產部位強健，民營企業具有競爭力，讓台灣2020年經濟即使在全球疫情期間也能加速成長。
asset(n.)資產liability(n.)負債accelerate(v.)加速;加快
The agency forecasts Taiwan’s economy will grow by 4.2% this year, with per capita GDP increasing to $30,900.
標準普爾預測台灣經濟今年成長4.2％，人均GDP增加到30,900美元。
GDP=Gross Domestic Product國內生產毛額
However, Taiwan’s rating is vulnerable to geopolitical risks. S&P warned that it may lower the ratings if cross-strait relations deteriorate abruptly. China has ramped up military drills near the Taiwan Strait in recent months, seeking to assert Chinese sovereignty.
不過，台灣的評等容易受到地緣政治風險的影響。標準普爾警告，如果兩岸關係突然惡化，可能會調降評等。最近幾個月，中國加強在台灣海峽附近的軍事演習，試圖宣示主權。
vulnerable(adj.)脆弱的，易受傷害的fragile(adj.)脆弱的;易碎的geopolitical(adj.)地緣政治的geopolitical risk 地緣政治風險cross-strait relations 兩岸關係deteriorate(v.)惡化;變壞abruptly(adv.)突然地=suddenlyramp up(v.)擴大;增加ramp up production 增加生產military drill 軍事演習assert(v.)主張;維護;堅持sovereignty(n.)主權;統治權assert sovereignty宣示主權
“Although geopolitical tension has risen, our base case remains that cross-strait and international trade relations will not fundamentally disrupt Taiwan’s economic stability,” S&P said.
標準普爾表示：「儘管地緣政治緊張情勢升高，但我們基本觀點仍然是，兩岸和國際貿易關係基本上不會破壞台灣的經濟穩定。」
base case基本情況、基本觀點fundamentally(adv.)基本上、根本地stability(n.)穩定stable(adj.)穩定的
“However, cross-strait tensions have recently increased against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk. This presents a risk that weighs more on Taiwan’s credit metrics than before,” it added.
報告還指出：「不過，在地緣政治風險加劇的情況下，兩岸緊張關係最近升溫。這代表一種風險，對台灣信用評等的影響比以前更大。」
against the backdrop of 在…背景下heightened(adj.)增強;加強metrics(n.)指標weigh on…使…苦惱、影響