But China’s assertiveness has provided enormous incentives to embrace an Asian multilateral system backed by America, rather than accept the exclusionary system that China seeks to lead. In 2011 we may begin to see whether those incentives lead China’s rulers to re-appraise their diplomatic conduct, which has left them with only the corrupt, basket case economies of Burma and North Korea as reliable friends in Asia.
2010年前，多数亚洲国家不愿在中美两国之间做出选择。但中国的自信态度已经促成了接受由美国主导的亚洲多边体系的强烈意愿，亚洲国家宁愿接受由美国主导的多边体系，也不愿接受中国谋求领导的排他性制度。2011年，我们可能目睹上述意愿是否会引导中国领导人重新评价自己的外交政策，这样的外交政策导致中国在亚洲的可靠盟友只剩下腐败并陷入经济困境的缅甸和北朝鲜。