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 dominant 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 collapse of USSR. It’s been dominant for so long that equality feels like defeat, and the prospect 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 corrupted 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 consolidation 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 constellation 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 rebellious youth thingy spilling this kind of imperialistic nonsense. Xi must be fuming 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！“