Instead, big countries jostle for a share of influence, knowing they cannot monopolise the scene; small and medium-sized powers struggle to keep room for manoeuvre by playing off would-be patrons.

相反，大国知道它们不可能垄断该地区，因而争抢着分享影响力；小国以及中等国家则通过让那些自诩的保护人彼此相斗而努力保持着自己的回旋余地。

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Small- and medium-sized countries talk about “geographical balance”; to big players that sounds like national quotas trumping talent.

小国和中等国家谈“地域平衡”；而对大国来说，这听上去象是按国家配额分配职位的规则压过了唯才是任。

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China cherishes bilateral traditional friendship and observes the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal.

中国珍视中土传统友谊，遵循大小国家一律平等原则。

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EU, which began with three big and three small countries, now has six big and 19 small.

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The present system, whereby big countries send two commissioners to Brussels and small countries one, means an over-generous 20 commissioners already.

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The smaller states are also alarmed at proposals to cut their voting powers, and to scrap the rotating six-month stints at running the EU presidency that all countries, big and small, currently get.

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