一是“威胁论”。根据西方近代史上的经验,“国强必霸”,因此西方一些人认为中国的发展是威胁,世界政治格局的演变是一种零和游戏,你升我降,你兴我衰,中国的“韬光养晦”政策就是“卧薪尝胆”。持这种观点的人去年非常得意,他们自以为找到了新的例证,将中国在南海、钓鱼岛问题上正当维护自己主权的行动视作“强硬”,认为中国外交已经开始咄咄逼人。我想,我们还是应该听听美国国务卿克林顿上周是如何评价这种观点的:“在亚太和美国,有人把中国的增长看成是威胁,或将导致冷战式冲突,或将使美国衰败”,“我们不接受这些看法”。事实上,坚持原则立场同是否强硬是两码事,国家之间打交道,重要的是看是否占“理”,“理直”才能“气壮”,“理屈”自然“词穷”。维护国家的主权、安全和发展利益,这就是中国外交的“理”,也是国际关系中的“理”。
Some see China as a threat. They look at the modern history of Western nations and conclude that "Rising powers are bound to seek hegemony".They see the shifting balance in the international political landscape with a zero-sum mentality. They believe China is "hiding its capabilities and biding its time" before pressing forward to dominate the region and ultimately the world. They point to recent acts by China to safeguard its sovereignty in the East and South China Seas as evidence of China's assertiveness. Let me quote from Secretary Hilary Clinton, who spoke about this just last week–"Some in the region and some here at home see China's growth as a threat that will lead either to Cold-War-style conflict or American decline. …We reject those views." I believe upholding principles and being assertive are two different things. What really matters is whether a country is on the right side. You can only make a strong case with good reasons. For China, safeguarding its interests in sovereignty, security and development is the right thing to do. This is a major principle in China's foreign policy, and is also a principle in international relations.
二是“责任论”,说是责任论,实际上是说中国“不负责任”。他们认为中国作为国际体系的一份子,享受了现行体系的好处,如经济全球化和贸易自由化,但没有做到也不愿去尽一个大国的责任,权利与责任不平衡,实力与作用不匹配,中国只是在“搭便车”。持这种观点的人眼里就盯着气候变化、朝核、世界经济失衡等几个问题,其实就拿这几个问题来指责中国“不负责任”也显得苍白无力。比如,朝鲜半岛局势最近出现缓和,大家公认中国再次发挥了积极作用。更何况,中国积极参与国际经济金融体系改革和治理,积极参加联合国维和行动和打击海盗,积极推动气候变化、国际发展等全球性问题的解决。
Some believe China should take up more international responsibilities. These people complain that China has not fully honoured its obligations. They believe that China free-rides the current international system. It benefits significantly from globalisation and trade liberalisation, but is reluctant to assume the responsibilities of a major power. They criticize China for lack of responsibility in climate change, the Korean nuclear issue and global economic imbalances, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. China has played an active role recently in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. China is taking an active part in the reform of the international economic and financial structures, in UN peacekeeping missions and in the fight against piracy. It is committed to working with other countries for solutions to global issues from climate change to international development.
三是,我称为“跛脚论”。认为中国经济发展赶上了世界的步伐,但政治、意识形态和价值观上中国仍是“异类”,两只脚不是一般长,走得不是一样快。这样的观点,我认为实际上是将自己的价值标准套用到别人的头上,是一种“自我中心论”,同时也是罔顾事实。中国改革开放的三十多年,难道只有经济上的快速发展,没有同步的政治与社会的进步和飞跃?两者的脱离理论上不成立,实践中也难以想象。事实上,与30多年前相比,中国不仅是经济发生了天翻地覆的变化,中国的政治生态、社会结构都取得了大发展,中国政治制度正朝着稳定、民主和效率的方向协调和均衡前进,中国社会既开放,又多元;中国人民不仅生活得更加富裕,而且更加幸福。
Others see China as "a laggard" in certain aspects. They believe that despite China's economic strength, it has not kept pace in the areas of politics, ideology and values. This reflects a self-centred attempt to impose Western values and standards onto China. It defies common sense and logic to believe three decades of reform and opening-up have only brought China economic growth, but not political and social progress. Such logic is flawed in theory and in practice, as China has come a long way in its political and social development. Its political system is making balanced and coordinated progress towards stability, democracy and efficiency. And Chinese society has become more open and diverse, resulting in people not only becoming wealthier, but also happier.
四是“不定论”。对中国的走向既怀希望,又有疑虑。持这种观点的人,在西方恐怕不在少数。这种观点看似很中立,其实同样有害,因为它可能导致西方迷茫甚至误判,丧失的不仅是合作的机会,而且是自身发展的机遇。
Lastly, some believe China's future is uncertain. They are torn between hope and fear for China's development, but unsure which way China will turn. This view of China has a large following in the West. It may sound neutral, but it can easily lead to confusion and even miscalculation. That could result in lost opportunities for cooperation and damage to their own development.
那么,中国自己到底怎么看与世界的关系和融合问题。我认为,中国在三年前就将这个问题看得很清楚、说得很透彻。胡锦涛总书记在2007年向中共十七大作报告时指出:中国与世界的关系发生了历史性变化;中国发展进步离不开世界,世界繁荣稳定也离不开中国;中国的前途命运日益紧密地同世界的前途命运联系在一起。经过国际金融危机的洗礼后,我们对这个看法更加坚定和明确。那就是中国追求和谐发展,中国与世界的关系是一种良性互动。这种关系的特点有三:
So, how does China see its role and relationship with the world? China made this very clear three years ago. In his report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party in 2007, President Hu Jintao commented that "China's relations with the world have gone through historic changes. China cannot develop in isolation from the world, and the world's prosperity and stability requires China's contribution. China's future and destiny are increasingly linked to the rest of the world." The international financial crisis has only reaffirmed China's commitment to harmonious development and a positive relationship with the world. To achieve the goals of successful development: