By offering generous economic incentives to its Southeast Asian neighbors, it has weakened their will to confront China in a coalition. Vietnam, for example, decided to “reset” its relations with China, and not to cooperate with the Philippines in waging a legal battle over China’s maritime claims.
中国新的柔性外交体现了更加细致的外交政策。通过向东南亚邻国提供慷慨的经济激励，中国削弱了它们联合对抗中国的意愿。比如，越南决定“重置”对华关系，并且不与菲律宾合作与中国打海权主张的法律战。