中欧关系 | 江时学：如何用中国成语解释中欧关系？(中英文）
创建时间：  2022-04-23     浏览次数：

在国际关系变革进程日趋繁绕复杂的当下，中国和欧盟作为维护世界和平与发展的两大重要力量，比以往任何时候都更应该携手同行，紧密合作。然而2020年以来，中欧关系变数横生。

中欧关系应该如何走出困局？上海大学特聘教授江时学借用五个中国成语阐述看法，指出欧盟不应“为虎作伥”、“指鹿为马”、“叶公好龙”、“疑人偷斧”，而应该与中国“比翼齐飞”，担当世界和平进步的建设者。本文中英文版本由作者授权本平台独家发布。

江时学

上海大学特聘教授

本文约3000字，读完约8分钟

1998年，中欧建立面向21世纪的长期稳定的建设性伙伴关系；2001年，双方建立全面伙伴关系；2003年，这一关系升格为全面战略伙伴关系。同年，中国政府发表首份对欧盟政策文件。自那时以来，中欧关系取得了快速的发展，尽管有时会遭遇风风雨雨。

2020年12月30日，中欧领导人共同宣布如期完成中欧投资协定谈判。然而，此后不久，欧盟却基于谎言和虚假信息，以所谓新疆人权问题为借口对中国一些个人和实体实施单边制裁，欧洲议会决定冻结有关批准该协定的讨论。此外，欧盟还在涉台和涉港问题上肆意干涉中国内政。

为了使中欧关系尽快走出困境，欧盟应该理解以下几个中国成语的含义，做到一要四不要。

不要为虎作伥。

欧洲一体化进程跌宕起伏，总能在曲折中稳步推进。尤其在2009年《里斯本条约》生效后，欧盟的国际地位达到了前所未有的高度。

与此同时，国际社会热切盼望欧盟能进一步强化自身的外交独立性，以展示欧盟在国际舞台上的重要角色。欧洲的一些有识之士也呼吁欧盟要强化自己的“战略自主性”，尤其是外交政策方面的独立性。

然而，这一期待似乎未能成为现实。在对华政策上，欧盟紧跟美国，以“人权教师爷”自居，玩弄虚伪的双重标准，四处干涉别国内政，甚至帮助美国打压中国。

在2021年7月举行的世界和平论坛上，我曾问欧盟驻华大使郁白：“在你有生之年，欧盟能否拥有独立自主的外交政策？”他很生气地说：“作为欧盟驻华大使，我从未接到过华盛顿给我的任何指令。”

其实，为虎作伥未必需要得到华盛顿的指令。

不要指鹿为马。

实事求是的要旨就是诚实。诚实既是与人相处之道，也是国际关系的基本准则。德国思想家康德说过，诚实比一切智谋更好，因为它是智谋的基本条件。

令人遗憾的是，一些欧洲政客却经常性地指鹿为马，张冠李戴，违背事实，颠倒是非，颠倒黑白。他们无视中国政府为保障各民族平等权利所做的巨大努力，歪曲事实，无中生有，大肆炒作涉疆议题，妄图借此抹黑中国形象，干涉中国内政，遏制中国发展。更为令人愤慨的是，2021年3月22日，欧盟基于谎言和虚假信息，以所谓新疆人权问题为借口对中国有关个人和实体实施单边制裁，严重损害了中欧关系。

图片新疆维吾尔自治区人民政府于2021年10月28日在京举办涉疆问题新闻发布会（图源/新华社）

事实上，人人充分享有人权，是人类社会的伟大梦想，也是包括新疆各族人民在内的全体中国人民长期追求、不懈奋斗的共同目标。中国政府积极践行国际人权条约义务，充分发挥制度优势，广泛汇聚各方力量，不断丰富和发展治疆方略，坚持依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆，有力促进了新疆各项事业快速发展。

不要叶公好龙。

众所周知，1978年之前的中国，人民生活贫苦，综合国力疲弱，国际地位低下。因此，那时的欧洲似乎对中国人民颇有怜悯之意，对中国的改革开放持欢迎和鼓励的态度，甚至在中国进行大规模的投资，也对中国出口商品开放市场，甚至同意中国加入世界贸易组织。无数欧洲人表示，欧洲乐见一个强大的、繁荣的中国屹立在世界舞台上。当然，对于欧洲的帮助，中国人民是不会忘记的。

但是，随着中国经济的发展和实力的增强，欧洲人对中国的看法立即发生了变化。例如，当中国在欧洲的投资不断增加后，欧洲人开始讨论如何加强对中国投资的审查。在中欧贸易不断扩大时，欧洲人开始抱怨贸易逆差。此外，他们还不断指责中国在各个经济领域违反国际规则。还有一些欧洲人甚至认为，中国的发展和强大挤压了他们的生存空间。无怪乎“中国威胁论”和“恐惧中国论”在欧洲时有所闻。

不要疑人偷斧。

信任既是人与人之间和睦相处的前提，也是国与国之间和平共处的基础。习近平主席将信任视为“国际关系中最好的黏合剂”，因为只有在相互信任的基础上才能构建相互尊重的新型国际关系。

中国将中欧视为国际舞台上的两大力量、两大市场、两大文明。这一定位无疑体现了中方对欧盟的信任。然而，欧盟却在2019年3月出台的题为《欧盟与中国的战略前景》的报告中，既将中国视为“合作伙伴”和“谈判伙伴”，又将中国当作“经济竞争者”和“系统性对手”。

如此不信任中国，哪能使中欧成为“合作伙伴”？哪能使双方的全面战略伙伴关系名至实归？哪能使中欧在推动全球治理和构建新型国际关系的过程中携手共进？

要比翼齐飞。

中国和欧盟分别是最大发展中国家和最大发达国家联合体。中欧在谋和平、求发展、促合作方面有很多共同语言。因此，一个稳定的中欧关系对世界的和平、稳定、发展至关重要。

2017年初，中国国家主席习近平在联合国日内瓦总部演讲时，发出“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”之问。确实，当今世界正面临百年未有之大变局，和平与发展仍然是时代主题，同时不稳定性不确定性更加突出，人类面临许多共同挑战。无论是久治不愈的新冠肺炎病毒，还是僵持不下的俄乌冲突；无论是步履维艰的全球治理，还是人类命运共同体的构建，都需要中欧双方认真对待，共商对策。换言之，为了应对这些挑战，中欧必须携手共进，展现担当，积极作为，做世界和平进步的合作建设者，为动荡变化的世界注入更多稳定性和确定性。

English Version

Chinese Proverbs to Explain the China-EU Relations

Jiang Shixue

Professor of Shanghai University

In 2003, China and the EU established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level of partnerships in international relations. This partnership has contributed to the rapid development of their bilateral relations in the political, economic, and cultural fields. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that China is now the EU’s second largest trade partner and the EU is China’s largest trade partner.

In the past one or two years, however, the bilateral relations between the two sides have met with some zigzags. Why so? From a Chinese perspective, the following five Chinese proverbs might offer some explanations:

1.为虎作伥

According to the Chinese legend, anyone who had been eaten by the tiger becomes a ghost, who would then help the tiger to catch more victims for the monster. In English there are similar expressions such as “acting as the paws of the tiger” and “holding a candle to the devil”.

Due to historic, cultural, and political connections, the EU has maintained close relations with the United States. Indeed, the Transatlantic tie is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.

Since the Lisbon Treaty came into force, the EU is expected to play a more important role in global affairs by maintaining its own independent foreign stance. However, on many issues, the EU just acts as the paws of the “tiger” or “holds a candle” to the United States.

For instance, although the EU has established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, it still followed the United States to impose sanctions against China in March 2021, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. Undoubtedly, a lack of independence in foreign policy will be counter-productive to the EU’s international position.

2. 疑人偷斧

According to this proverb, when a man could not find his axe, he started to suspect that his neighbor’s son had stolen it. The more he looked at the boy, the more he believed that the boy was the thief. However, when he found his axe at his own home, the more he looked at the boys, the more unlikely that the boy was the thief.

It is trust, even more than economic interest, that holds human associations together. The same is true for international relations. Regrettably speaking, in recent years, the EU’s mistrust and distrust of China is rising. As a result, its misunderstanding, misperception, and misjudgment about China has cast shadow over its relations with China. The EU needs to remember that trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair.

The EU’s mistrust and distrust about China has had a negative impact upon its cognition about the bilateral ties. Whereas China considers the EU as partners for peace, growth, reform and civilization, the EU sees China as “a systemic rival promoting alternative models of governance”.

3. 指鹿为马

Literally speaking, this proverb can be translated as “pointing to a deer and saying it is a horse”, meaning that facts can be distorted easily.

Despite remarkable progress of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the EU, Chinaphobia is on the rise in Europe. In recent years, it has been made worse by fake news and disinformation about China.

Based on groundless reports and rumors, the EU accused China of human rights violation in Xinjiang. As a matter of fact, equality, unity, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups are the basic requirements for managing ethnic affairs and handling ethnic relations. Since the end of 2016 there has been no terrorist incident in Xinjiang. Ethnic minority population in Xinjiang increased from 4.45 million in 1953 to 11 million in 2000 and 14.9 million in 2020.

4. 叶公好龙

As the proverb goes, a person called Lord Ye loved dragon so much that he even carved a sculpture of the animal on the stone pillars of his house. However, when the dragon really arrived at this home, his professed love of the animal turned out to be fear.

In 1978 China started to reform and open its door to Europe and other parts of the world. At that time, its economy was totally undeveloped. Therefore, a kind hearted or even a merciful Europe was willing to cooperate with China and also make large amounts if investment in China. However, when China became the second largest economy, the EU started to be skeptical or even fearful of China. That is why the mentality of “China threat” has been wide-spreading in Europe, leaving a negative impact upon the EU’s China policy and the general public’s impression of China.

As a matter of fact, the EU does not need to fear a prosperous China. A prosperous China is in the interests of the EU. Moreover, for the foreseeable future, China will remain a developing country. Moreover, China will respect the status quo of the world order.

5. 比翼齐飞

According to the Chinese legend, there is one kind of bird which has only one eye and one wing. If it wants to fly, it needs to cooperate with another bird.

In today’s world, interdependence between/among nations has become all the more important. The EU or China are global players. Therefore, they need to cooperate with each other in such areas as global economic governance, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber-security, etc. Only through cooperation can they achieve a win-win outcome.

本文由作者授权iGCU独家发布，欢迎转载，转载时请标明来源：

北京大学中外人文交流研究基地




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中欧关系 | 江时学：如何用中国成语解释中欧关系？(中英文）
创建时间：  2022-04-23     浏览次数：

在国际关系变革进程日趋繁绕复杂的当下，中国和欧盟作为维护世界和平与发展的两大重要力量，比以往任何时候都更应该携手同行，紧密合作。然而2020年以来，中欧关系变数横生。

中欧关系应该如何走出困局？上海大学特聘教授江时学借用五个中国成语阐述看法，指出欧盟不应“为虎作伥”、“指鹿为马”、“叶公好龙”、“疑人偷斧”，而应该与中国“比翼齐飞”，担当世界和平进步的建设者。本文中英文版本由作者授权本平台独家发布。

江时学

上海大学特聘教授

本文约3000字，读完约8分钟

1998年，中欧建立面向21世纪的长期稳定的建设性伙伴关系；2001年，双方建立全面伙伴关系；2003年，这一关系升格为全面战略伙伴关系。同年，中国政府发表首份对欧盟政策文件。自那时以来，中欧关系取得了快速的发展，尽管有时会遭遇风风雨雨。

2020年12月30日，中欧领导人共同宣布如期完成中欧投资协定谈判。然而，此后不久，欧盟却基于谎言和虚假信息，以所谓新疆人权问题为借口对中国一些个人和实体实施单边制裁，欧洲议会决定冻结有关批准该协定的讨论。此外，欧盟还在涉台和涉港问题上肆意干涉中国内政。

为了使中欧关系尽快走出困境，欧盟应该理解以下几个中国成语的含义，做到一要四不要。

不要为虎作伥。

欧洲一体化进程跌宕起伏，总能在曲折中稳步推进。尤其在2009年《里斯本条约》生效后，欧盟的国际地位达到了前所未有的高度。

与此同时，国际社会热切盼望欧盟能进一步强化自身的外交独立性，以展示欧盟在国际舞台上的重要角色。欧洲的一些有识之士也呼吁欧盟要强化自己的“战略自主性”，尤其是外交政策方面的独立性。

然而，这一期待似乎未能成为现实。在对华政策上，欧盟紧跟美国，以“人权教师爷”自居，玩弄虚伪的双重标准，四处干涉别国内政，甚至帮助美国打压中国。

在2021年7月举行的世界和平论坛上，我曾问欧盟驻华大使郁白：“在你有生之年，欧盟能否拥有独立自主的外交政策？”他很生气地说：“作为欧盟驻华大使，我从未接到过华盛顿给我的任何指令。”

其实，为虎作伥未必需要得到华盛顿的指令。

不要指鹿为马。

实事求是的要旨就是诚实。诚实既是与人相处之道，也是国际关系的基本准则。德国思想家康德说过，诚实比一切智谋更好，因为它是智谋的基本条件。

令人遗憾的是，一些欧洲政客却经常性地指鹿为马，张冠李戴，违背事实，颠倒是非，颠倒黑白。他们无视中国政府为保障各民族平等权利所做的巨大努力，歪曲事实，无中生有，大肆炒作涉疆议题，妄图借此抹黑中国形象，干涉中国内政，遏制中国发展。更为令人愤慨的是，2021年3月22日，欧盟基于谎言和虚假信息，以所谓新疆人权问题为借口对中国有关个人和实体实施单边制裁，严重损害了中欧关系。

图片新疆维吾尔自治区人民政府于2021年10月28日在京举办涉疆问题新闻发布会（图源/新华社）

事实上，人人充分享有人权，是人类社会的伟大梦想，也是包括新疆各族人民在内的全体中国人民长期追求、不懈奋斗的共同目标。中国政府积极践行国际人权条约义务，充分发挥制度优势，广泛汇聚各方力量，不断丰富和发展治疆方略，坚持依法治疆、团结稳疆、文化润疆、富民兴疆、长期建疆，有力促进了新疆各项事业快速发展。

不要叶公好龙。

众所周知，1978年之前的中国，人民生活贫苦，综合国力疲弱，国际地位低下。因此，那时的欧洲似乎对中国人民颇有怜悯之意，对中国的改革开放持欢迎和鼓励的态度，甚至在中国进行大规模的投资，也对中国出口商品开放市场，甚至同意中国加入世界贸易组织。无数欧洲人表示，欧洲乐见一个强大的、繁荣的中国屹立在世界舞台上。当然，对于欧洲的帮助，中国人民是不会忘记的。

但是，随着中国经济的发展和实力的增强，欧洲人对中国的看法立即发生了变化。例如，当中国在欧洲的投资不断增加后，欧洲人开始讨论如何加强对中国投资的审查。在中欧贸易不断扩大时，欧洲人开始抱怨贸易逆差。此外，他们还不断指责中国在各个经济领域违反国际规则。还有一些欧洲人甚至认为，中国的发展和强大挤压了他们的生存空间。无怪乎“中国威胁论”和“恐惧中国论”在欧洲时有所闻。

不要疑人偷斧。

信任既是人与人之间和睦相处的前提，也是国与国之间和平共处的基础。习近平主席将信任视为“国际关系中最好的黏合剂”，因为只有在相互信任的基础上才能构建相互尊重的新型国际关系。

中国将中欧视为国际舞台上的两大力量、两大市场、两大文明。这一定位无疑体现了中方对欧盟的信任。然而，欧盟却在2019年3月出台的题为《欧盟与中国的战略前景》的报告中，既将中国视为“合作伙伴”和“谈判伙伴”，又将中国当作“经济竞争者”和“系统性对手”。

如此不信任中国，哪能使中欧成为“合作伙伴”？哪能使双方的全面战略伙伴关系名至实归？哪能使中欧在推动全球治理和构建新型国际关系的过程中携手共进？

要比翼齐飞。

中国和欧盟分别是最大发展中国家和最大发达国家联合体。中欧在谋和平、求发展、促合作方面有很多共同语言。因此，一个稳定的中欧关系对世界的和平、稳定、发展至关重要。

2017年初，中国国家主席习近平在联合国日内瓦总部演讲时，发出“世界怎么了、我们怎么办”之问。确实，当今世界正面临百年未有之大变局，和平与发展仍然是时代主题，同时不稳定性不确定性更加突出，人类面临许多共同挑战。无论是久治不愈的新冠肺炎病毒，还是僵持不下的俄乌冲突；无论是步履维艰的全球治理，还是人类命运共同体的构建，都需要中欧双方认真对待，共商对策。换言之，为了应对这些挑战，中欧必须携手共进，展现担当，积极作为，做世界和平进步的合作建设者，为动荡变化的世界注入更多稳定性和确定性。

English Version

Chinese Proverbs to Explain the China-EU Relations

Jiang Shixue

Professor of Shanghai University

In 2003, China and the EU established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level of partnerships in international relations. This partnership has contributed to the rapid development of their bilateral relations in the political, economic, and cultural fields. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that China is now the EU’s second largest trade partner and the EU is China’s largest trade partner.

In the past one or two years, however, the bilateral relations between the two sides have met with some zigzags. Why so? From a Chinese perspective, the following five Chinese proverbs might offer some explanations:

1.为虎作伥

According to the Chinese legend, anyone who had been eaten by the tiger becomes a ghost, who would then help the tiger to catch more victims for the monster. In English there are similar expressions such as “acting as the paws of the tiger” and “holding a candle to the devil”.

Due to historic, cultural, and political connections, the EU has maintained close relations with the United States. Indeed, the Transatlantic tie is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.

Since the Lisbon Treaty came into force, the EU is expected to play a more important role in global affairs by maintaining its own independent foreign stance. However, on many issues, the EU just acts as the paws of the “tiger” or “holds a candle” to the United States.

For instance, although the EU has established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, it still followed the United States to impose sanctions against China in March 2021, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang. Undoubtedly, a lack of independence in foreign policy will be counter-productive to the EU’s international position.

2. 疑人偷斧

According to this proverb, when a man could not find his axe, he started to suspect that his neighbor’s son had stolen it. The more he looked at the boy, the more he believed that the boy was the thief. However, when he found his axe at his own home, the more he looked at the boys, the more unlikely that the boy was the thief.

It is trust, even more than economic interest, that holds human associations together. The same is true for international relations. Regrettably speaking, in recent years, the EU’s mistrust and distrust of China is rising. As a result, its misunderstanding, misperception, and misjudgment about China has cast shadow over its relations with China. The EU needs to remember that trust takes years to build, seconds to break and forever to repair.

The EU’s mistrust and distrust about China has had a negative impact upon its cognition about the bilateral ties. Whereas China considers the EU as partners for peace, growth, reform and civilization, the EU sees China as “a systemic rival promoting alternative models of governance”.

3. 指鹿为马

Literally speaking, this proverb can be translated as “pointing to a deer and saying it is a horse”, meaning that facts can be distorted easily.

Despite remarkable progress of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the EU, Chinaphobia is on the rise in Europe. In recent years, it has been made worse by fake news and disinformation about China.

Based on groundless reports and rumors, the EU accused China of human rights violation in Xinjiang. As a matter of fact, equality, unity, and common prosperity for all ethnic groups are the basic requirements for managing ethnic affairs and handling ethnic relations. Since the end of 2016 there has been no terrorist incident in Xinjiang. Ethnic minority population in Xinjiang increased from 4.45 million in 1953 to 11 million in 2000 and 14.9 million in 2020.

4. 叶公好龙

As the proverb goes, a person called Lord Ye loved dragon so much that he even carved a sculpture of the animal on the stone pillars of his house. However, when the dragon really arrived at this home, his professed love of the animal turned out to be fear.

In 1978 China started to reform and open its door to Europe and other parts of the world. At that time, its economy was totally undeveloped. Therefore, a kind hearted or even a merciful Europe was willing to cooperate with China and also make large amounts if investment in China. However, when China became the second largest economy, the EU started to be skeptical or even fearful of China. That is why the mentality of “China threat” has been wide-spreading in Europe, leaving a negative impact upon the EU’s China policy and the general public’s impression of China.

As a matter of fact, the EU does not need to fear a prosperous China. A prosperous China is in the interests of the EU. Moreover, for the foreseeable future, China will remain a developing country. Moreover, China will respect the status quo of the world order.

5. 比翼齐飞

According to the Chinese legend, there is one kind of bird which has only one eye and one wing. If it wants to fly, it needs to cooperate with another bird.

In today’s world, interdependence between/among nations has become all the more important. The EU or China are global players. Therefore, they need to cooperate with each other in such areas as global economic governance, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber-security, etc. Only through cooperation can they achieve a win-win outcome.

本文由作者授权iGCU独家发布，欢迎转载，转载时请标明来源：

北京大学中外人文交流研究基地




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