【08.12.27泰晤士报】视点：为什么中国不愿意出头

yangfuguang

【原文标题】Analysis: China spreads its wings, reluctantly

【中文标题】视点：为什么中国不愿意出头

【登载媒体】泰晤士报

【来源地址】http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5400166.ece
【译者】yangfuguang

【声明】本翻译供Anti-CNN使用，转载请注明译者及出处，谢谢！
【译文】

Analysis: China spreads its wings, reluctantly
Jane Macartney, China Correspondent



China’s much-feared military build-up has been in the public eye this week. For the first time since the 15th century, its naval ships have set sail for African waters, their aim to protect international vessels against pirate attack, and the People’s Liberation Army has finally confirmed its intent to build an aircraft carrier.


Beijing looks as if it could be ready and eager to spread its power and influence beyond its borders. But China’s ambitions do not lie overseas – or at least not yet.


China’s Communist Party leaders will have agreed to take part in such a high-profile international venture only after much soul-searching and with a sense of great reservation. They are deeply cautious by nature, reluctant to strut their stuff on the world stage for two reasons

Firstly, non-interference in the affairs of other countries has long been the guiding principle of Chinese foreign policy. Beijing does not want to give other countries any pretext to interfere in its own domestic problems – from Tibet to Taiwan. Secondly, it remains nervous about overreaching itself when it comes to exercising diplomatic influence. It has long preferred to play a watching role, frequently abstaining in United Nations votes rather than commit itself to a policy that could be construed as meddling.

But as its economic clout grows to equal that of major economies and its business interests stretch to Africa and further afield, China is finding that it may have to take responsibility for protecting those interests. It may also begin to assess that it is time to play a more active role in international crises – whether economic or diplomatic – as befits its position on the United Nations Security Council.

Its leaders find themselves in a dilemma when it comes to projecting China’s image abroad. They want the respect of the world. Indeed, they believe that the achievements of their country in the brief three decades since the chaos of the Cultural Revolution deserve international recognition. They know that their challenge is how to demonstrate their growing might, both economic and military, without triggering worldwide fear and anger that could cause China to close back in upon itself.

Comments
China could be the next coming superpower, but not the next world police. China is not the United States, even someday it has capability to do though.
It is the MATTER of CHOICE.
Livia, Hull, UK

Well said Arthur, If this kind of news is used by Western media as a pretext to conjure the next threat to "World" peace out of thin air, I hope wise bloggers will have the foresight to see it for what it is- scaremongering. China is only doing what it should given it's current standing in the World
David, Tianjin, China

"Much-feared military build-up"??
This particular piece of spin has been pushed by the US to create another pretext for increased military spending, and to sell arms to Taiwan. The CIA figures themselves acknowledge that China's military spending is a mere 10% of that of the US.
Arthur, Beijing,

That's good for China but I hope they don't end up becoming the next world police like we did.
Stewart O' Riordan, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America

It's very wisedom.Each of its action is cautious.
machao, qingdao, usa

Well written. Concise, and to the point.
Why can't the American journalists do the same?
Tian, New York, USA

I am all for China to expand its influence and protect its strategic interests as long as they do not follow the US template of 1st strike and all that crap.
Richard Tan, Melb, Oz

About time, too. You can't gain respect or influence locked in your room, as mum used to say.
Jeff, London,



【译文】
                   视点：为什么中国不愿意出头

简·马戈尔尼    中国通讯员

    中国令人担忧的军事集结今天展现在人们眼前。从15世纪开始，这是中国海军军舰第一次驶向非洲海域，他们的任务是保卫世界的轮船不受海盗的袭扰，而中国人民解放军最终确认自己有建造航母的意愿。


    北京似乎已经准备好，并且颇为急迫地想在海外展现自己的实力和影响力。但是中国的雄心不在海外——至少现在不是。


    中国共产党领导人是在深思熟虑之后才同意以高姿态参与这次国际行动的。他们天生的谨慎，他们不大情愿在世界事务中扮演重要角色的原因有两个。


    第一，不干涉他国内政是中国长久的外交方针。北京不会给他国以任何借口来干涉中国的内政——从台湾到西藏。第二，中国仍然担心自己的外交影响走过头了。长久以来中国宁愿扮演一个观察者的角色，在联合国有关决议的投票中，她为了不让自己的行为被理解为一种干涉，常常投弃权票。


    但是，伴随着中国经济实力的日益增长，她的商业活动也扩展到非洲乃至更远的地方，中国慢慢明白必须采取行动来保护商业利益。中国现在也开始评估是时候要在国际事务中扮演更加积极的角色了——外交方面也好，经济方面也好——以和自己在联合国安理会的地位相称。


    中国的领导人发现在保护中国海外形象的问题上常常处在进退两难的境地。他们想要世界的尊重。确实，他们相信从文革混乱中走出的中国经济在短短30年间取得的成就值得世界的认可。他们明白，对于他们的挑战是如何展示自己的力量——经济的，军事的力量，没有控制好世界的恐惧和怒火，会使得中国回归到自己的本位。



评论：


中国可以是下一个超级大国，但不会是下一个世界警察。中国不是美利坚，尽管有一天她有这个能力。
这是“选择的问题”。
——李薇雅，赫而市 英国

亚瑟说的好 ，如果这种消息被西方媒体无中生有地作为中国威胁世界和平的证据，我希望智慧的博主能够看到它真实的内容——扰乱人心。
——大卫，天津，中国。

“令人担心的军事集结？”
这种特定的夸张是美国用来制造中国威胁论，卖给台湾武器的借口。中央情报局自己的数据就证实中国军费开支只是美国的10%。
——亚瑟，北京。

那对中国很好，但是我不希望他们最终变成下一个世界警察，就像我们一样，
——斯图尔特奥赖尔登·布鲁克林，纽约，美国。

中国很聪明，她的每次行动都很小心。
——马超（音）
qingdao, usa

写的好，言简意赅，切中要害。
为什么美国的记者做不到呢？
——田（音）  纽约，美国

我也是这样，你不可能把自己锁在家里而得到尊重，就像妈妈说的。
——杰夫，伦敦

只要中国不学美国那样，我完全赞同中国展示自己的影响力。
——理查德 谭 Melb, Oz