Ambassador Hong Xiaoyong Publishes a Signed Article in The Straits Times to Respond to Remarks that Distort Chinas Image
驻新加坡大使洪小勇在新加坡《海峡时报》刊文回应歪曲中国形象言论
12 July 2018
2018年7月12日
On July 1st 2018, The Straits Times published the speech made by Mr Bilahari Kausikan, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, at a forum on public diplomacy. He made groundless attack at China, claiming that China is conducting influence operation through persuasion, inducement and coercion.
2018年7月1日，新加坡《海峡时报》刊登新加坡外交部前常秘比拉哈里·考斯甘在一公共外交主题论坛上的演讲。演讲中对中国外交进行指责，称中国企图通过劝说、引诱和胁迫等方式对别国进行影响力操纵。
In response, H.E. Mr. Hong Xiaoyong, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore, had a signed article published in The Straits Times on July 12th. In the article, he responded to Bilahari’s speech in order to set the record straight. The full text is as follows:
作为回应，驻新加坡大使洪小勇于7月12日在《海峡时报》刊发署名文章，对考斯甘演讲内容予以回应，以正视听，中译文全文如下：
Recent remarks made by Mr Bilahari Kausikan at a forum on public diplomacy and published in The Straits Times have led to comments from the public on China’s image. Mr Kausikan, a former senior diplomat, has not infrequently aired his opinions in the media. His latest speech, however, is a far cry from reality and leaves an unfavourable impression of China on others. It raises the question: How should the world view and understand China? As China’s global influence grows, this assumes greater importance, both for China and the rest of the world
最近《海峡时报》刊登的比拉哈里先生在某一公共外交论坛上的演讲引发了民众关于中国形象的讨论。比拉哈里先生曾是一名高级外交官，时常在媒体上发表一些言论。他这次演讲同实际情况相去甚远，给人带来一种中国不可亲、不可近的印象。这再次提醒了一个问题：如何认识和看待中国？随着中国的国际影响力不断提升，这个问题对中国、对世界变得愈发重要。
Is China manipulating other countries’ citizens, as Mr Kausikan suggests?
中国是否真如比拉哈里先生所说那样，在“操控”他国呢？
In response, I would say firstly that every country hopes to gain recognition and support for its development philosophy and foreign policies. In this sense, China is no different. Unlike some countries, however, China does not impose its ideology and development model.
对此我想说，首先，争取国际社会对本国发展理念和外交政策的理解和支持，是所有国家外交工作的共同目标。在这一点上，各国与中国没有不同。但与某些国家不同，中国并不将自己的意识形态和发展模式强加于人。
Secondly, since the global media has been largely dominated by the West, in fact, it is China which often finds itself the target of groundless attacks. What China wishes to do is to share its propositions in a modest and candid manner, rather than seek to manipulate public opinion.
第二，国际话语权长期掌握在西方国家手中，中国面临更多的是无端非难。中国一直本着谦虚坦诚的态度阐述主张而并非想着去“操控”舆论。
Thirdly, no country has ever gained influence and respect through manipulation.
第三，当今世界，没有哪个国家能够最终依靠“操控”提升影响力，成为令人信服的国家。
In recent years, China has made great efforts in carrying out its international responsibilities and put forward some initiatives on regional and global cooperation, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. These have gained a positive response from many countries, not because of manipulation but because they meet the interests of other parties and provide opportunities for common development.
近年中国努力践行国际责任，提出不少合作主张，包括“一带一路”、亚洲基础设施投资银行等区域和全球合作倡议，得到众多国家积极响应。他们的态度不是中国“操控”的结果，而是因为中国的倡议契合了各国的共同利益，提供了共同发展的机遇。
Indeed, what the world has witnessed is that China, a socialist country and home to almost 1.4 billion people, has risen in a way unseen before in human history, and the impact on the world is also unprecedented. Its achievements prove that its development path and model are successful. As an engine of global economic growth, China has always been willing to share its development opportunities with others, but by no means does it impose its models on others.
实际上，世界所看到的是，作为拥有近14亿人口的社会主义国家，中国的崛起在人类历史上前所未有，对世界的影响也前所未有。中国的发展成就充分证明，中国的发展道路和模式是成功的。作为世界经济发展引擎，中国愿同各国分享中国的发展机遇，但从未将自己的道路、模式、理论强加于人。
China’s foreign policies are aimed at serving its national development. Beyond that, China also endeavors to incorporate its development into the greater cause of world peace and prosperity, working towards the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind. With these objectives in mind, China has implemented its foreign policies consistently, upholds the principles of peaceful co-existence and champions global fairness and justice. We oppose the big bullying the small and interference in others’ internal affairs. This is what China has said and this is also what China has been doing.
中国外交秉持服务国家发展的宗旨。同时，中国努力将自身发展融入到世界和平与发展的伟大事业中，推动构建人类命运共同体。在上述原则指引下，中国奉行一贯的外交政策，坚持和平共处五项原则，坚定维护国际公平正义，反对以大欺小、以强凌弱，反对干涉别国内政。中国是这样讲的，也一直是这样做的。
Some online remarks cited by Mr Kausikan in his criticism by no means represent the stance of the Chinese government. It is a pity that he looks at China through biased eyes. Given his perspective, his conclusions cannot be fair and right.
比拉哈里先生在演讲中引用的一些网络言论不代表中国政府的立场。很可惜的是，他戴着“有色眼镜”看中国，对中国抱有偏见，因此所推导出的结论不可能是公平、正确的。
As for China-Singapore relations, China attaches great importance to our bilateral ties and cherishes the friendship established by several generations of our leaders. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, with his extraordinary strategic vision, made important contributions to the establishment and development of our diplomatic ties. We are pleased to see that Mr Lee’s strategic vision and commitment to the relationship have been inherited by his successors.
对于比拉哈里先生提到的中新关系问题，我想说中国高度重视中新关系，珍视两国几代领导人建立起来的友谊。李光耀先生以非凡的战略眼光，为中新建交和两国关系发展作出重要贡献。我们高兴地看到，李光耀先生之后的新加坡领导人继承了李光耀先生的战略眼光和致力于中新友好的精神。
Over the years, our ties have progressed and continue to do so based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. China respects Singapore’s achievements in maintaining racial and religious harmony. It has no intention of influencing Singaporeans’ sense of their national identity and will never do so. Our close bonds in history and culture should be positive factors and not a burden in the development of our relationship.
相互尊重、平等互利是中新两国政府的共识，在这一共识指导下，两国关系得以与时俱进、不断发展。中国尊重和赞赏新加坡在维护多元种族与宗教和谐共处方面取得的成就。中国没有影响新加坡国民身份认同的意图，也决不会这样去做。中新在历史和文化等方面的相亲相近，应成为两国关系发展的重要积极因素，没有理由成为消极负担。
Mr Kausikan condemned China for presenting false choices and forcing other countries to choose between them. But, in fact, it is his speech that is misleading others into misunderstanding China.
比拉哈里先生指责中国在公共外交中经常使别国在错误选项中作出错误选择。但事实是，他的演讲正是在误导读者错误认识中国。
Distorting the image of China, a key player in the international community, not only causes harm to China but also impairs the friendship and cooperation among countries. That is a scenario nobody would like to see.
中国已经是国际社会举足轻重的一员，扭曲中国形象，受伤害的不仅是中国，也包括各国间的友谊与合作。这是所有人都不愿意看到的。