【中字】新加坡前外长杨荣文访谈：不是中国不能，而是他们不想！

Summary

The discussion addresses the U.S. view of China as a significant competitor and potential threat to its global dominance. The speaker highlights the importance of understanding China's long history and cultural context to avoid missteps that could lead to conflict. Emphasizing China's non-expansionist nature and historical patience, the conversation contrasts Western perceptions with China's actual strategic approach. The role of Europe in maintaining global balance and the complex issue of Taiwan are also explored, underscoring the need for informed and strategic diplomacy to prevent unnecessary tensions.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The US sees China as its primary global rival and threat to its dominance, which has led to a bipartisan consensus on the need to contain China.
• 🔍 The speaker suggests that the US approach to China is misguided and based on a misunderstanding of China's history and cultural underpinnings.
• 🏛 China is historically not expansionist; its homogeneity and cultural comfort with its own people make the incorporation of non-Chinese people troublesome.
• 🕊️ The speaker, being ethnic Chinese and from Singapore, believes that China does not see the benefit in conquering foreign lands or imposing its values on others.
• 📚 Chinese patience and long-term perspective stem from their deep connection to history, which influences their approach to current affairs.
• 🏙️ The hope for China to adopt Western-style liberal democracy is unrealistic, given its long history of autocratic rule and centralized governance.
• 🌐 Europe's role in the US-China dynamic is significant; maintaining a balanced stance could prevent conflict between the two superpowers.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Taiwan is a matter of historical justice for China, and the use of force is not ruled out if unification is obstructed by external forces.
• 🤝 Europe's position on Taiwan should be informed by a deep understanding of history to avoid inadvertently entering a geopolitical minefield.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding China's nature and history to avoid actions that could lead to tragedy.
• 🚀 China's economic growth and opening up are likely to continue, driven by the desire of its people to improve their living standards and the country's potential to become a dominant global economy.

Q & A

What is the current US perspective on China?

The current US perspective views China as a threat to US dominance in the world, rather than a territorial threat.

Why is the US approach to China considered dangerous?

The US approach is considered dangerous because the democratic electorate's passions can get out of control, potentially leading to conflicts, especially if incidents like casualties in the South China Sea occur.

How should the US approach its relationship with China?

The US should understand the nature of the challenge posed by China, considering its history and philosophical underpinnings, to ensure actions lead to success rather than tragedy.

What makes China unique in terms of its civilization and national identity?

China's uniqueness lies in its long civilization and homogeneous population, deeply rooted in its culture, making it a very different civilization compared to regions like Europe.

Why is China not considered an expansionist nation?

China is not considered expansionist because historically, it finds it troublesome to incorporate non-Chinese people into its realm and does not see profit in conquering foreign lands.

What is the Chinese approach to international relations, according to the speaker?

China prefers not to impose its values on others and focuses on solving its own problems rather than trying to solve other nations' problems.

What role does patience play in Chinese civilization?

Chinese patience comes from their long history, where events are viewed within the context of centuries, and actions are often influenced by historical precedents.

How does the speaker view the possibility of China becoming a liberal democracy?

The speaker views the hope of China becoming a liberal democracy as a pipe dream, given its vast land and historically autocratic nature.

What was significant about the 1911 Revolution in China?

The 1911 Revolution in China marked a significant transformation from imperial rule to a republic, leading to major social changes, including the liberation of women.

How does the speaker perceive the future economic development of China?

The speaker believes China's economic development will continue due to the people's desire for a better life, potentially reaching half of US per capita income and having an economy equal to the US and EU combined.

What role does Europe play in the US-China dynamics?

Europe can maintain balance and prevent war between the US and China by not supporting either side in a conflict, requiring a strategic and historical view.

How does China view the US's involvement with Taiwan?

China sees the US's involvement with Taiwan as a potential tactic to keep China divided, which could lead to war if perceived as such, but peace is possible with gradual convergence.

What historical context does China rely on regarding Taiwan?

China relies on the Cairo Declaration and subsequent reaffirmations, which agreed that Taiwan would be restored to China after World War II.