The Global Roles of the United States, China, and Japan
美国、中国和日本的世界角色
China has been developing at an unprecedented speed since the beginning of the 21st century.
21世纪以来，中国的发展速度史无前例。
As a populous country, it is incredible that China, while burdened with a population 3.5 times larger than that of the United States and 12 times larger than that of Japan, can achieve such a rapid economic growth, and its GDP is already 3.5 times larger than that of Japan. In 6 to 7 years, the GDP of China will be comparable to that of the United States, the world's hegemon after World War II. In this regard, not only Japan, but the whole world, seems to be shaken.
令人难以置信的是，作为人口大国，中国在高速经济增长的同时，背负着美国的3.5倍、日本的12倍人口。中国的GDP也已经达到日本的3.5倍，再过6至7年就可以与二战后的世界霸主美国相提并论。这不仅震撼了日本，也震撼了整个世界。
Therefore, it is reasonably understandable why the United States is so surprised and disturbed by the extraordinary growth of China.
因此也就不难理解为什么美国看到中国的急速发展会感到如此地惊讶和焦虑。
Japan, whose economic development has embraced a turning point, will be decisively affected if any confrontation occurs between China and the United States during the Great Power Competition. That's why Japan needs to make great efforts to prevent that from happening.
中美在大国角逐中若发生争端，对已经迎来经济发展拐点的日本来说无疑具有决定性影响。正因如此，日本需要下功夫以防止中美争端的发生。
The era of unprofitable competition, when nations compete by strengthening their military power, should be ended as soon as possible, even if it does not necessarily lead to war.
即使不至于引发战争，通过加强军事力量来竞争的无益竞争时代也应尽快结束。
In the mid-1980s, the United States and the Soviet Union competed over the number of nuclear warheads, and they could not afford the consequences of losing, and agreed to halt this unwise competition at the Reykjavík Summit. In contrast, we the human beings are facing such common crises as climate change and environmental problems that have been more severe and afford no delay.
20世纪80年代中期，美苏就核弹头数量竞争，最终因双方无法承受而在雷克雅未克会晤中同意停止这种愚蠢的竞争。与美苏竞争时期相比，如今人类共同面临的危机，如气候变化和环境问题等，不仅更加严重而且更加急迫。
To get through these challenges, Japan, the United States and China need to work together and contribute their wisdom.
为了应对这些危机，日、美、中需齐心协力，凝聚智慧。
The Shifting Positions of the United States and China
美国和中国的立场发生变化
The economic stagnation due to the COVID-19 has made the United States become more alarmed by China's catch-up.
由于新冠病毒导致的经济停滞，美国对中国的追赶更加警惕。即便如此，美国如今也无法阻止中国的发展。
Despite this, the United States cannot block China’s development today and such attempts would create political and economic division and bring confrontation and chaos around the world. The United States, who intends to maintain global stability, could lose credibility and prestige in the eyes of other countries ultimately.
美中对立会在政治和经济层面上分裂世界，招致对峙和混乱。希望维持世界稳定的美国有可能因此一举失去他国对其的信任感和威信。
U.S. President Joe Biden's harsh statements on China are more likely to be based on domestic situation such as political pressure from the congress, rather than long-term considerations. And China must understand that as well.
美国总统拜登严厉的对华发言，与其说是出于长期的考虑，不如说是基于应对国内议会压力的吧。中国也必须理解这一点。
It may not be necessarily needed to wait till 2030 to witness the transition of the global economic preeminence from the US to China. However, even after it were economically overtaken by China, the United States would continue to lead the democratic countries. Both economically and politically, the United States is eager to remain the role as the great power that underpins world stability, and few things could alter that.
不用等到2030年，美国就可能会把世界经济第一的位置让给中国。但是，即使在经济上被中国赶超，美国也会继续领导西方国家。毫无疑问，美国希望无论在经济上还是政治上，都能继续保有支撑世界稳定的大国身份。
With the consecutive steady economic growth, the Chinese people are experiencing a strong sense of prosperity at current moment, with the dream of becoming the strongest country in the world. And it is not so odd President Xi Jinping is placed high expectations as the Top Leader to lead this dream.
中国的经济持续稳步增长。今天，中国国民已经切身感受到了国家富强，胸怀“成为世界第一强国”的梦想。因此，对引领中国实现这一梦想的中国领导层寄予厚望也就不足为奇。
It is the 1.4 billion Chinese people who support the so-called authoritarian Chinese system. In China, smart phones and social networks have been evolving the society. The administration has no choice but to care for public opinions, similar to our democratic countries. However, it should be noted that excessive agitation towards nationalism will only backfire.
支撑着中国制度的是14亿中国国民。在中国，智能手机和社交网络正在改变社会。中国领导层和我们西方国家一样，不得不在意舆论。但是，要注意的是，过分煽动民族主义，只会适得其反。
The democratic state should not only criticize the Chinese system, which have received a considerable appreciation domestically, but also prove the advantages of democracy by its own actions.
中国制度在国内得到相当高的评价。西方国家不仅批判中国制度，更用自己的行动证明他们的优势。
In the future, China will certainly keep growing. However, to fulfill its own development, China cannot ignore the global economic system that has been centered on the United States after World War II and maintained sometimes with necessary sacrifices.
未来，中国也必将继续成长。但是，为了实现成长，中国不能无视在二战后以美国为中心，有时需要以牺牲为代价才得以维持的全球经济体系。
Isn’t mutual understanding of each other's position the so-called "a Community of Shared Future"?
相互理解对方的立场不就是所谓的“命运共同体”吗?
Imminent Environmental Crisis
迫近的环境危机
Even in a prosperously developing China today, it is unable to remove the constraints of environmental problems and climate change. In terms of a community of shared future, indulging the situation worsen means a destined doom of the world.
虽然中国发展顺利，但也无法摆脱环境问题、气候变化的桎梏。不解决这些危机，世界将不复存在，这即体现了命运共同体。
Due to global warming, permafrost inplaces like Siberia has been melting and carbon dioxide (CO2) is being released in large quantities accordingly, which has already accelerated the global warming, and the temperature has been abruptly rising. From the end of the last century, the unknown virus may as well have been released through forest exploitation in South America or permafrost melting in Siberia.
由于全球变暖，西伯利亚等地的永久冻土因而融化，大量释放二氧化碳(CO2)，进一步加速全球变暖，带来了爆发性的气温上升。从上个世纪末期开始，未知的病毒有可能通过南美的森林演变出来，或者从西伯利亚的永久冻土中被释放出来。
The days when national development overwhelms everything has unconsciously come to an end, which we should be consciously aware of.
我们必须意识到，只要自己国家发展就好的时代已经在不知不觉中结束了。
The entire international community is obliged to unite and take response measures as soon as possible. There is no space left for great powers, who alternatively ought to serve the role as models, struggling for hegemony and influence.
对此，整个国际社会必须团结一致，尽快采取对应措施。本应为世界做表率的大国没有余力再进行霸权和势力斗争。
Valuable Trusting Relationships
重要的信任关系
In this case, how should Japan act?
在此情况下，日本应该如何行动呢?
First, we should utilize the US-Japan alliance to reassure and settle people down on issues such like climate change and to indicate the direction of the new era.
首先，应该利用美日同盟关系，在气候变化等问题上，让人们安心、安定下来，并为人们指明新时代的方向。
China is a large neighbor and has an inseparable relationship with Japan no matter in the past or in the future, therefore the two countries should not slide into a hostile relation. It is necessary to strengthen cooperative connections along with deepening mutual understanding.
由于中国是近邻大国，无论过去还是将来都与日本有着密不可分的关系，所以与中国不应该是敌对关系，有必要在加深相互理解的同时，加强合作关系。
Based on the understanding of both China and the United States, the cooperation mechanism of the United States, China and Japan will be able to form a powerful lineup like "a tiger with wings" to better overcome the global crisis.
在得到中美各自的理解的基础上，为了克服全球危机，美、中、日的合作体制将形成“如虎添翼”般的强大阵容。
There is no doubt that South Korea should also be included in this cooperation mechanism. Now the leadership is needed to keep a bigger picture in mind and move from confrontation to cooperation.
当然，韩国也应该加入这一阵容。如今，需要具备从对立走向合作的大局观的领导能力。
What matters is the trust between the heads of the states. It is essential for the leaders to start dialogues for resolving major issues. Under current circumstances, it is questionable whether trusts between anystates’heads can be established .
重要的是首脑之间的信任。因为在解决大问题上，首脑之间的对话是必须的。但在当前形势下，任何国家建立领导人之间的信任关系都令人怀疑。
Therefore, the heads of the states with a long-termvision should take responsibility and make efforts to achieve this goal.
因此需要着眼于长远未来的首脑们承担责任，不懈努力。
（翻译：孙荺涵、周肇敏，国际儒学联合会副理事长、日本法政大学名誉教授王敏 提供帮助）