Since the US-China rapprochement four decades ago, China has maintained a studied ambiguity regarding America’s role as the guarantor of Asia’s security. China’s pragmatic leaders knew that the US presence helped to contain the Soviet Union (and subsequently Russia), prevented Japan from re-arming, and kept sea-lanes open.
自四十年前中美恢复邦交以来，中国美国的亚洲安全保障者角色一直刻意的暧昧。中国的务实领导人知道，美国的存在有助于遏制苏联（以及随后的俄罗斯）、防止日本重新武装、保持海路开放。他们也明白，他们缺少挑战美国领导的安全秩序或提供可行替代方案的实力。