【英语中国】中国迅速谴责以色列 韩国作何想？

Watching China's instant condemnation of the Israeli assault on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, South Koreans must be wondering more than ever when China will muster a clear response to their own nautical tragedy.

For several months, Chinese officials have been tongue-tied on the sinking of a South Korean patrol ship, with the loss of 46 sailors, even after an international investigation found that the vessel was ripped apart by a North Korean torpedo.

While South Korean officials have been fuming, and with public sentiment inside the country turning against China, Chinese officials have been repeating worn mantras about the need for 'calm' and 'peace and stability' on the Korean peninsula.

The nearest that China, North Korea's biggest supporter, has come to getting off the fence was a statement by Premier Wen Jiabao that Beijing will look into the matter and 'will not protect anyone.'

Contrast that reserve with China's blistering response to the Israeli attack on the aid ships, in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed. 'China is appalled,' said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu. 'We were shocked,' he said. Yang Tao, a counselor at the Chinese mission to the U.N., urged a 'quick response' by the U.N. Security Council.

On Tuesday, Ma told a news briefing that China was 'seriously and prudently' studying information from all sides on the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan. Asked about China's quick response to the Israeli assault compared with its slow response on the Cheonan, Ma said he didn't understand the logic of the question and so he wouldn't comment.

Of course, the Israeli commando action played out in full view of the world.

The circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Cheonan were initially unclear. But now that the international investigation has delivered its verdict, the longer China delays taking a stand the more damage it will do to its reputation among traumatized South Koreans.

以色列袭击开往加沙地带的救援船只，中国迅速对此进行谴责。眼见此种情形，韩国一定比以往更想知道，中国何时才能对韩国军舰沉没事件做出明确的反应。

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一艘以色列巡逻艇正在护送加沙救援船队的船只几个月来，中国官员对韩国巡逻舰沉没并导致46名船员丧生一事一直未明确表态，即便在一项国际联合调查表明沉没军舰是被一枚朝鲜鱼雷炸沉后也是如此。

尽管韩国官员对此恼怒不已，韩国国内的公众舆论也转而对中国不满，中国官员仍一直在重复惯用的言辞，称要保持“冷静”，维护“朝鲜半岛的和平与稳定”。

朝鲜最大的支持者中国的骑 态度最近逐渐有了改变，中国总理温家宝近日声明，中国政府将对该事件进行调查，并“不会庇护任何一方”。

与对韩国军舰沉没事件的保留态度形成鲜明对照的是中国对以色列袭击救援船的迅速反应。以色列袭击救援船造成至少九名支持巴勒斯坦的活动人士死亡。中国外交部发言人马朝旭说，中国对此“表示震惊”。 中国驻联合国代表处领事杨涛敦促联合国安理会做出“紧急回应”。

马朝旭周二在一个新闻吹风会上说，对3月26日“天安”号沉没事件，中国“仍在认真、慎重地研究和评估各方面信息”。在被问及中国对以色列袭击救援船事件迅速进行批评，而对“天安”号事件反应缓慢，两者有何不同时，马朝旭说他不明白这个问题有何逻辑，因而不予置评。

当然，以色列士兵的行为处于全球众目睽睽之下。

“天号”号沉没的各种细节情况起初并不明确。但现在，国际调查结果已有定论，中国越延迟表明立场，对中国在受到创伤的韩国人中的声誉就越不利。