你怎样看待中国的外交政策

 　　A large amount of Chinese, mostly teenagers and less-educated people, believe that China’s diplomacy¹ is too weak, and they ask the government to be tougher on China’s adversaries². How is China’s foreign policy perceived abroad?

　　大部分中国人，特别是青少年和文化教育程度较低的人，都认为中国外交政策太软弱，要求政府需态度强硬怼对手。那么海外的你们认为中国外交政策如何呢？

　　It’s good, but it is too one-dimensional.Chinese diplomacy is very clear about China’s goals and interests, especially when China was a developing economy. It was much easier when China was poor, but now that it is growing, the challenge is more complex.

　　还不错，但实在是呆板得很。中国外交目的很清晰，都是基于中国的目标和利益，尤其中国是一个发展中的经济体。当中国还很穷时候，任何国际问题都可以轻易用贫困甩锅，但现在确实是越做越大，面临的挑战更加复杂。

　　Unfortunately, Chinese diplomacy is still stuck in a historical trap inherited from imperial times. When China was strong and the dominant³ cultural force in east Asia, the Chinese emperors were used to having their neighbors visit their capitol, and praising Chinese culture and its dominance in the region. This resulted in the still current belief that Chinese neighbors should recognize and support Chinese dominance in the region, and that China would never have to explain the rationale behind its worldview.“When China is so superior, why should it have to explain anything?”

　　不幸的是，中国的外交政策还沉浸在帝制时代的辉煌里。以往的中国强大并且在是主导东亚的文化力量，中国皇帝们已经习惯了他们的邻国前往繁华京城面圣，习惯了藩国赞美中国文化，习惯了周边小国奉承他们强大的统治地位。这些导致中国人普遍潜意识认为，这地盘是我的，邻国们就该承认和支持中国的主导地位。中国永远不会思考这种认知对其他国家来说是否合理。中国太理所当然：“我们就是如此优越，有必要明说吗？”

　　Of course, Beijing does not like such a strategy because it would amount to surrendering a certain amount of control, which may in turn lead to unpleasant surprises.But, it would certainly lead to China’s neighbors feeling less uneasy about China’s rise, which would lead to less likelihood of their thinking that a US military presence in the region is important for guaranteeing their security.

　　当然，北京不喜欢寻求这样的外交策略，因为它无异于放弃一些控制权，而且可能导致某些不愉快的意外。如若不多加沟通，邻国们肯定会对中国的强大崛起感到心神不宁啦。上诉方法可让中国的邻居们弱化一些想法，例如美军很重要，能够东亚能保卫他们不受中国侵略等等。

　　Sounds familiar to Mr. Trump’s “America First”, right? Because the US, as the sole superpower, has not changed since the collapse⁴ of USSR. It’s been dominant for so long that equality feels like defeat, and the prospect⁵ of equality is intolerable. It’s not that the US politicians are necessarily worse than others. If anybody happens to land in that superpower position, that guy may not behave any better either. Say, if the Superpower is the UK, or France, would it necessarily behave any better? If you look at their exploits in Africa, Southeast Asia, and all over the world, no, not necessarily. Everybody can be just as easily corrupted⁶ by the absolute power over other nations. So if China positions herself as the new regional strongman, she will immediately become the next target. The main boogeyman. That’s a given. It’s not just the US political establishment saying so. Popular sentiment in the US demands this as well.

　　听起来很像特朗普先生说的“美国优先”，对吧？ 因为美自苏联解体以来，就是唯一的超级大国，没有改变过。 长此以往，当美国一想到和其他国家可能平起平坐，就会感觉是被击败了。平等的前景是不能被容忍的。 并不是说美国政客一定比其他国家政客更糟糕。 如果有人碰巧在这个超级大国的位置，那个家伙也可能没有什么更好的表现。 假设现在的超级大国是英国或者法国，它会有更好的表现？ 你看看英法在非洲，东南亚和世界各地的开拓新大陆的成绩，不，真的不一定。 一个国家只要有绝对性超越其他国家的权力，就极容易腐败掉。 所以如果中国把自己定位为新的区域性强国，那么它直接就是下个目标。 对于黑暗眼冒绿光的狼来说，这无疑是送上门的羔羊。并不是单纯美国政治制度如此， 在他们民众中，这个理论备受推崇。

　　China has always recognized this feature of the US foreign policy since its foundation, thus its foreign policy, since Deng’s time, has always been to encourage the development of regional consolidation⁷ and cooperation. The goal is to keep a pack of regional powers moving together. So that you don’t see a clear No. 2. You see a mushrooming of No. 2, 3, 4, 5, … all at the same time. So you are not sure which one is No. 2, but you know if you target one of them, both of you will lose, and you’ll only make the rest of the pack greater. For example, if the US and China fight, it’ll only make Russia or EU great again. This would not be a rational choice. As long as everybody can be persuaded by reason, there won’t be a war, because whoever is involved in a shooting war loses. This is how you can transition from one superpower to a constellation⁸ of regional powers peacefully.

　　中国自成立以来，一直很清楚美国外交政策的这一特点，因此自邓小平之后的外交政策一直是鼓励区域合作与发展。 目的是促成分散的区域性力量的一体化。 现今世界，除了美国第一，再也看不到明确被划为第二大的力量。你只能看到在同一时间内迅速发展的的第二，第三，第四，第五。 美国分不清楚哪一个是第二，但他们知道一旦只瞄准其中的一个，会得不偿失，剩下的那些力量会因此迅速壮大。举个栗子，如果美中战斗，只会使俄罗斯或欧盟坐大。 这不是一个理性的选择。 只要每个人都还拥有理性，就不会有战争，因为参与进狩猎战的国家意味着失败。 这就是安全地在一个超级大国虎视眈眈下，过渡成为一个区域性力量中璀璨的明星的方法。

　　Thus in China, you basically have a leftwing government telling its citizens to respect all the people, the culture, the local laws, when they go abroad, even passing out handbooks on it before they board the plane, and you have a bit of a right wing rebellious⁹ youth thingy spilling this kind of imperialistic¹⁰ nonsense. Xi must be fuming¹¹ inside, “Of all the good stuff from other countries, you don’t learn those, and you have to learn this kind of stupid garbage! You need some more homework!”

　　因此，在中国，基本上有一个左翼政府，告诉公民尊重世界所有的人民，文化，当地的法律，甚至在出国的时候，登机前发行的手册提醒。你也许年轻，有一点点叛逆右翼倾向，洋溢着帝国主义的气息胡说八道。 你们习大大听了估计要七窍生烟：“其他国家那么多优秀的东西，你不学，竟学这种愚蠢的垃圾！ 滚回家再受教育吧你！“

1 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

2 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

3 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

4 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

5 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

6 corrupted   

（使）败坏( corrupt的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏

参考例句：

• The body corrupted quite quickly. 尸体很快腐烂了。
• The text was corrupted by careless copyists. 原文因抄写员粗心而有讹误。

7 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

8 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

9 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

10 imperialistic   

帝国主义的，帝制的

参考例句：

• An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 一个帝国主义国家将其势力与影响伸展至邻国。
• EXTEND An imperialistic country extends its power and influence into neighboring countries. 帝国主义国家将它的势力和影响扩展至邻近国家。

11 fuming   

愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟

参考例句：

• She sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam. 她坐在汽车里，心中对交通堵塞感到十分恼火。
• I was fuming at their inefficiency. 我正因为他们效率低而发火。