Sir, Realpolitik is a German word, and the British government should take a leaf out of Angela Merkel’s book when it considers how to pursue its important relationship with the emerging Chinese superpower. The Germans have developed a durable, trusting relationship with China by respecting, even rejoicing in, the fundamental differences between the Chinese tradition and their own. By contrast, Britain’s relationship with China has often been set back by the shared background of Hong Kong.
閣下,實力政治(Realpolitik)是一個德國人發明的詞語。英國政府在考慮如何發展與正在興起的超級大國中國的重要關系時,應當效仿安格拉?默克爾(Angela Merkel)的做法。德國人尊重、甚至樂見德中傳統的根本不同之處,由此與中國形成了一種持久的、相互信任的關系。相比之下,英中關系卻經常因為香港問題而倒退。