The threat to America’s international standing is real; but, blinded by it, Americans believe that they are still in a position to condescend to China as they would to an inferior power. For the time being, the Chinese may be too preoccupied with their own backyard to pay attention to such insults, but it is foolish to offend them deliberately.
中国也在受民族主义推动，13亿人的动力有多大，它就将走得多高。美国国际地位的威胁是实实在在的；但是，美国人被这蒙蔽了双眼，认为屈尊于中国无异于屈尊于劣等强国。目前，中国人或许因埋头于自身发展而忽略了美国的屈辱感，但故意冒犯他们是很愚蠢的。