<轉載自2017年11月10日 明報 社評>
美國總統特朗普訪華，中方以「國事訪問+」超高規格接待，特朗普也收起一貫狂氣，多番稱讚習近平和中國政府，最令人嘖嘖稱奇的，是他談到美中貿易不平衡時，強調「不會怪中國」，與競選總統期間狠批中國，形成鮮明對比。今次特朗普訪華，見證中美關係微妙轉變，權力天秤不再傾向美方，美國總統沒有就地區安全、貿易等議題，指指點點對華「訓話」，兩國趨於平起平坐，令構建「新型大國關係」變得可能。國家主席習近平形容「中美關係處於新起點」，不應單純視為外交辭令。
特朗普訪問中日 兩張嘴臉差異大
中方對於特朗普來訪，可謂給足面子，除了依足國事訪問最高接待規格，安排檢閱三軍儀仗隊、鳴放21響禮炮，以及國宴招待，還由習近平伉麗在故宮寶蘊樓親迎，四人暢遊故宮大半天。特朗普自視極高，中方以「國事訪問+」規格，提供「帝王級」招待，特朗普樂在其中，然而也許中國才是真正贏家。
自奧巴馬以來，美國總統已甚少打「人權牌」，特朗普否定「美國例外主義」，不再強調美國制度優越，不談價值輸出，訪華未提人權是意料中事。真正出乎意料是特朗普對於貿易和朝鮮問題，也沒有向中方擺出強硬姿態。去年特朗普競選總統，多次炮轟中國以「不公平」貿易政策「強姦」美國，搶走美國人飯碗。雖然今次特朗普也有提到中美貿易「不公平」，要求中方減少美國對華貿易逆差，可是他同時表示「不會怪中國」，「說到底，誰又可以怪責一個國家，去為自己人民福祉着想去佔其他國家便宜」，真正要怪責的，是前幾屆美國政府的失敗政策。
特朗普對華前倨後恭，轉變之大，令人驚訝，更與訪問日本期間，對日方頤指氣使，形成鮮明對比。特朗普公開抨擊日本佔美國貿易便宜，又嘲諷日本號稱「武士之國」，連朝鮮導彈也沒有擊落，還是快些多購美國軍備。特朗普常說國家強大就可以贏得尊重，是否放諸四海皆準，可以斟酌，惟觀乎他訪問中日的兩張嘴臉，說明了他是怎樣看待其他國家。
今次特朗普訪華，中方安排簽署總值超過2500億美元的商貿和投資訂單，金額破盡紀錄，然而生意往來是雙贏合作，說不上大派甜頭，何况這些商貿協議，究竟有多少是早已締訂，只是刻意留待特朗普訪華簽署，好讓他滿載而歸，外界亦無從判斷。特朗普要求中方開放市場，可是並沒有提出具體方案施壓；朝核問題方面，特朗普要求中方加強施壓，然而習近平並沒有提出額外新措施，只是強調嚴格執行聯合國安理會制裁決議，意味不會支持美方搞單邊制裁，也無意向華府讓步，採取諸如斷絕石油供應等措施。
國力地位一浮一沉 中美關係趨向對等
過去一年，中美國際地位以至習特兩人的個人威信，有此消彼長之勢。習特都以「令國家重新偉大」為目標，走的是截然不同的路。特朗普走的是民族主義、保護主義、單邊主義，抗拒全球化和國際合作，拒絕支持巴黎氣候協議。當特朗普關心如何修築圍牆，習近平聚焦的是如何鋪橋搭路，推動一帶一路，支持多邊主義，既然美國不願擔當全球化領導者，就由中國承擔。十九大後習近平大權在握，引用《經濟學人》的說法，成為了「全球最有權力的人」，反觀特朗普在國內備受「通俄門」困擾，施政舉步維艱，成為當代美國最弱勢的總統。
中國經濟規模有望在2030年前超過美國，《時代》周刊甚至高呼「中國贏了」。中國要邁向社會主義現代化強國，還有30多年的路要走，現在切忌沾沾自喜，不過中美之間的權力天秤，的確不再傾斜向美國一邊，兩國關係趨向對等，領導人真正做到平起平坐。習近平力倡構建「新型大國關係」，關鍵正正在於「平等尊重」，由中美以平等方式分擔全球領導角色，打破新興大國與老牌強國必起衝突的宿命。對中方來說，今次特朗普訪華的最大成果和意義，也許就是為構建「新型大國關係」，奠下真正平等尊重的基礎。
過去奧巴馬政府對「新型大國關係」概念相當抗拒，質疑北京想藉此「脅迫」美國默許中國在亞洲建立勢力範圍，將美國逐出亞洲，背後折射的，除了是華府的零和思維，更反映美國自視全球霸主，誰想稱雄一方必須先問過美國。美國企圖圍堵遏制中國之心不會消失，日前特朗普這位「雙面人」也誓言要建立一個自由開放的「印太區」，意在牽制中國，更多貿易攻防戰未來可能陸續上演，不過中美國力浮沉乃大勢所趨，形勢正逐步朝中方希望的方向走。
China and US — the balance has shifted
DONALD TRUMP, the US president, visited China. He put aside his
arrogance and repeatedly heaped praise on Xi Jinping and the Chinese
government. What is particularly surprising is that he stressed that he
"would not blame China" when he talked about the trade imbalance
between the US and China, which was in stark contrast with his harsh criticism
of China during his campaign.
US presidents beginning from Barack Obama have seldom used the
"human rights card". It was predictable that Trump, who is against
"American Exceptionalism", who no longer emphasises the superiority
of the US's systems and who does not impose US values on others, did not
mention human rights during his China visit. What was truly surprising was that
Donald Trump did not adopt a harsh stance on trade and North Korea. Last year,
when Donald Trump ran for presidency, he repeatedly lambasted China for its
"unfair" trade policies, which he said "were raping" the
United States and were stealing American jobs. Even though Donald Trump still
said Sino-American trade was unfair during his visit this time and asked China
to reduce the US's trade deficit with China, he said he "would not blame
China". What was to blame was the failed policies of previous US
administrations, Trump said.
Donald Trump's abrupt change from arrogance to humility was surprising.
It was also in stark contrast with his Japan visit, when he bossed the Japanese
around. Trump lambasted Japan publicly for taking advantage of US trade.
Furthermore, he sneered at Japan, saying that although the country was titled
"the nation of samurai", it had not even been able to shoot down North
Korea's missiles. He said Japan should buy more US military equipment as soon
as possible. Donald Trump has often said that a country that is strong can
command the respect of other countries. Whether this is true everywhere is
debatable. However, judging from his different attitudes when he visited China
and Japan, it can be seen how he treats other countries.
Over the past year, the international status of China and the United
States and the personal prestige of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump are such that
one is on the rise and the other is on the wane. Both men aim to make the
country great again, but they take different paths. Donald Trump adopts
nationalism, protectionism and unilateralism, and rejects globalism and
international cooperation. He has refused to support the Paris climate
agreement. While Donald Trump is concerned about how to build a wall, Xi is
concentrating on how to build roads and bridges. He has pressed ahead with the
"One Belt One Road" plan, supported multilateralism, and shouldered
the responsibility as the leader of globalisation when the US is refusing to do
so. After the 19th National Congress, Xi became fully in power, and is now
"the world's most powerful person", as The Economist has said. Donald
Trump, in contrast, is plagued by the "Russia-gate" scandal
domestically, and he has had difficulty implementing his policies. He is the
weakest president in contemporary American history.
The Chinese economy is expected to overtake the American economy before
2030. The Time Magazine even shouted loudly "China won". China still
has more than 30 years to go before it becomes a great modern socialist
country. We should not be complacent. However, it is indeed true that the
balance between the two countries is no longer slanted in favour of the US.
There is more equality between the nations and parity between the two leaders.
特朗普對華前倨後恭 中美權力天秤起變化
美國總統特朗普訪華，特朗普收起一貫狂氣，多番稱讚習近平和中國政府，最令人嘖嘖稱奇的，是他談到美中貿易不平衡時，強調「不會怪中國」，與競選總統期間狠批中國，形成鮮明對比。
自奧巴馬以來，美國總統已甚少打「人權牌」，特朗普否定「美國例外主義」，不再強調美國制度優越，不談價值輸出，訪華未提人權是意料中事。真正出乎意料是特朗普對於貿易和朝鮮問題，也沒有向中方擺出強硬姿態。去年特朗普競選總統，多次炮轟中國以「不公平」貿易政策「強姦」美國，搶走美國人飯碗。雖然今次特朗普也有提到中美貿易「不公平」，要求中方減少美國對華貿易逆差，可是他同時表示「不會怪中國」，真正要怪責的，是前幾屆美國政府的失敗政策。
特朗普對華前倨後恭，轉變之大，令人驚訝，更與訪問日本期間，對日方頤指氣使，形成鮮明對比。特朗普公開抨擊日本佔美國貿易便宜，又嘲諷日本號稱「武士之國」，連朝鮮導彈也沒有擊落，還是快些多購美國軍備。特朗普常說國家強大就可以贏得尊重，是否放諸四海皆準，可以斟酌，惟觀乎他訪問中日的兩張嘴臉，說明了他是怎樣看待其他國家。
過去一年，中美國際地位以至習特兩人的個人威信，有此消彼長之勢。習特都以「令國家重新偉大」為目標，走的是截然不同的路。特朗普走的是民族主義、保護主義、單邊主義，抗拒全球化和國際合作，拒絕支持巴黎氣候協議。當特朗普關心如何修築圍牆，習近平聚焦的是如何鋪橋搭路，推動一帶一路，支持多邊主義，既然美國不願擔當全球化領導者，就由中國承擔。十九大後習近平大權在握，引用《經濟學人》的說法，成為了「全球最有權力的人」，反觀特朗普在國內備受「通俄門」困擾，施政舉步維艱，成為當代美國最弱勢的總統。
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