But a key factor is that, until recently, China’s leaders have abided by the wise counsel of Deng Xiaoping: taoguang yanghui (conceal [our] capabilities and avoid the limelight), and shanyu shouzhuo (be good at keeping a low profile). China’s decision to browbeat the Japanese into submission over the fishing trawler, suggests that China may be throwing Deng’s geopolitical caution out the window.
上述法则之所以失效，原因很复杂，但最关键的因素只有一条，那就是中国领导人一直都牢记着邓小平的箴言：韬光养晦，善于守拙。而如今中国逼迫日本在船长事件上做出让步的行为，意味着邓小平的那一套已经被抛诸脑后了。