More important, China’s economy depends on continued access to Western – and especially US – markets. At a time when a slowing economy is creating greater uncertainty for China, it cannot afford to provoke tensions with the US over anything that is not in its direct interests, such as its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
更重要的是，中国经济依赖继续进入西方特别是美国市场。经济减速正在给中国带来更大的不确定性，中国不可能在任何它不存在直接利益（如南海的领土主张）的地方挑起与美国的紧张局面。