陆克文观点的“现实主义”维度承认，分歧的某些方面 — — 包括台湾问题、南海和东海领土纠纷、美国的亚洲盟友、中国军事现代化和中国政治制度合法性等 — — 在可预见的未来仍然非常棘手。
The “realist” dimension of Rudd’s argument recognizes that certain areas of disagreement – including Taiwan, territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas, US alliances in Asia, Chinese military modernization, and the legitimacy of China’s political system – will remain intractable for the foreseeable future.