The philosophical problem concerns China’s renewed conception of itself as the “Middle Kingdom,” a state with no sovereign equal. Throughout its history, China has sought to treat its neighbors as vassals – a mindset currently reflected in the way that it has approached negotiations with Vietnam and the Philippines over the South China Sea.
理念上的问题可以归纳为中国的“中央王国”理念——即一个主权高于他国的国家——正在死灰复燃。中国历史以来都致力于把邻国变成自己的附庸——这种心态在它与越南、菲律宾就南中国海问题进行协商时就已暴露无遗了。