??? 隨著歐債危機持續發展，中國投資者越來越重視在葡萄牙、西班牙、希臘和其他國家尋找機會，這些為債務所困的政府正在出售公共資產。Rhodium的數據顯示，2011年中國向歐洲投資超過90億美元。

????但愛爾蘭所做的可不只是出售公共資產這么簡單。這應該也不意外，因為過去愛爾蘭經濟也是依靠出口和外國投資。從輝瑞（Pfizer）到Facebook，很多美國的跨國公司都已在愛爾蘭設立了歐洲總部。愛爾蘭希望中國公司也能接踵而至——當地的低企業稅率，相對受到良好教育的、以英語為母語的勞動力都對跨國公司具有吸引力。

????是的，爭奪中國投資的競爭正在升溫。如果美國不更努力地與愛爾蘭或其他國家展開競爭，人們很容易覺得美國在這個問題上犯了錯。應該承認，愛爾蘭目前的財政狀況比美國嚴峻得多，因此迫切地需要吸引一切能夠吸引到的投資。經過樓市暴跌和銀行業危機之后，愛爾蘭的失業率目前已經高達14%。

????愛爾蘭正在努力扭轉這一局面。近月來，一些跡象顯示投資者似乎已重拾信心，相信愛爾蘭能比其他歐洲國家更好地解決債務危機。由于2011年經濟增速好于預期（主要受出口拉動），愛爾蘭10年期國債收益率已從去年7月的峰值14%下降到了8.2%。而且，自從2010年11月被迫接受歐盟-國際貨幣基金組織（International Monetary Fund）龐大的救助方案以來，今年1月愛爾蘭首度重返國際債券市場。

????但凱爾特之虎瞄準的目標不只是中國。本月早些時候，愛爾蘭宣布將下調針對某些高技能外國雇員的征稅，以期吸引新的投資。

????是的，愛爾蘭已意識到國內經濟的疲弱，希望借助外國投資者的力量重現經濟繁榮。美國會效仿愛爾蘭，而不是寄望于保護主義嗎？

????As Europe's ongoing debt crisis unfolds, Chinese investors have increasingly looked to Portugal, Spain, Greece and others for opportunities as debt-troubled governments sell off public assets. In 2011, China invested more than $9 billion in Europe, according to Rhodium.

????But Ireland is doing more than banking on public assets. And this should probably come as little surprise, given that the country previously built up its economy on exports and foreign investments. Many U.S. multinationals, from Pfizer (PFE) to Facebook, have based their European headquarters in Ireland. And Ireland hopes Chinese companies might follow, with the allure of its low corporate tax rates and relatively well-educated workforce of English speakers.

????Indeed, the competition for Chinese investments is ramping up. And it's hard not to wonder if the U.S. might be mistaken for not competing better with the Irish and others. Admittedly, Ireland is in a much tougher financial spot than the U.S. and eager to lure all the investment it can. Its unemployment rate is running at a high 14%, after having been battered by a property market crash and a banking crisis.

????Ireland is turning it around. In recent months, investors have signaled renewed confidence that Ireland could overcome its financial problems better than the rest of Europe. Irish 10-year bond yields have slid to 8.2% since last July's peak of about 14% partly on better than expected growth for 2011 (driven largely by exports). What's more, in January, Ireland returned to the international bond market for the first time since it was forced to accept a mega European Union-International Monetary Fund bailout package in November 2010.

????The Celtic Tiger isn't just narrowing its focus on China, however. Earlier this month, Ireland announced it would cut the amount of tax levied on some highly skilled foreign workers in an effort to attract new investments.

????Indeed, Ireland realizes its economy at home is weak and has turned to investors abroad to help return it to its heydays. Instead of falling on protectionist rhetoric, might the U.S. follow?