The international community’s mixed response to China’s crackdown on dissent — ranging from public criticism to total silence — has handed Beijing leeway to maintain its hard line, experts say.
專家表示，國際社會對於中國打壓異議聲浪的反應不一，從公開批評到完全保持緘默，已經使中國在堅持強硬立場上有更多餘地。
Since Chinese authorities, apparently spooked by the pro-democracy uprisings sweeping the Middle East, began detaining lawyers, artists and other activists in February, a parade of Western leaders have met with Beijing’s top brass.
自中國當局顯然被橫掃中東地區的泛民主起義行動嚇到，從2月起開始拘留律師、藝術家及其他運動人士後，已有連串西方領袖與北京高層官員會面。
Some have slammed China over the clampdown — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this month called it a “fool’s errand”.
有些人公開批評中國的鎮壓措施，如美國國務卿希拉蕊．柯林頓本月即稱中國此舉將會「徒勞無功」。
Others such as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who visited Beijing last month, have avoided making criticism in public.
其他領袖，如本月造訪北京的巴西總統羅賽夫，則避免在公開場合批評中國。
Human Rights Watch Asia researcher Nicholas Bequelin suggested that the West was in part compromised by its commercial relations with the world’s second-largest economy.
亞洲人權觀察組織研究員貝克林表示，西方國家因顧慮自身與全球第二大經濟體間的商業關係，所以立場多少打了折扣。
“Many Western countries scuppered international principles by treating China differently” from other hardline governments due to their “economic interests”, but also to a “lack of realism” about China’s political system, Bequelin said.
「許多西方國家破壞了國際社會的原則，對待中國的態度明顯不同於」其他強硬派政府，原因是出自於其「經濟利益」，但同時也是因為對中國的政治制度「缺乏實際理解」，貝克林說。
新聞辭典
leeway：名詞，指餘地、空間或時間的餘裕等，例句︰Local councils will be given some leeway as to how they implement the legislation.（地方議會在法案的實施方式上，將有部份彈性空間。）
top brass：名詞，非正式用法，指政界、產業界或軍中的高級官員或領袖，例句︰The top brass turned thumbs down on the proposal.（高層給這項提案打了回票。）
fool’s errand：名詞，複數為fools’ errands，指徒勞的任務或奔波。例句︰It’s a fool’s errand trying to get Lena to join in anything.（想讓麗娜加入任何活動根本是白費力氣。）
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本文由自动聚合程序取自网络，内容和观点不代表数字时代立场
