For example, China’s leaders seem to believe that the 2008 economic crisis and the high costs of two foreign wars have left the US in no position to exercise international leadership. That may explain China’s recent foreign-policy assertiveness, particularly in its dispute with Japan over control of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which could be intended to probe the strength of the US-Japan alliance.
比如，中国领导人似乎认为2008年经济危机和两场海外战争的巨大代价意味着美国已不再能够行使国际领导力。这或许能够解释中国最近的激进外交政策，特别是在钓鱼岛控制权问题上与日本的争端，这也许是意在探测美日同盟的坚固程度。