I can't understand the meaning of 'but' in a sentence

[majinman]

I have understood function of 'but' as conversing the meaning of former setence.
However, I am embarrased at seeing a sentence.

---------------------------------------
China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint, but
to Washington's humiliation has refused to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean
ship in March 2010.
--------------------------------------

As I understand, in that sentence I think 'but' doesn't have any meaning or function.

I take in
restraint = refused to blame
So I think 'and' is appropriate instead of 'but'

But I am not a native, so what do I miss?

'

I

 

[Ali Hsn]

Hello.

*I AM NOT A NATIVE OR TEACHER.*

The conjunction, "but", is used to point out China's contradictory behavior, i.e. urging all sides to show restraint but refusing to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean ship.

 

[Benny P]

I have understood function of 'but' as conversing the meaning of former setence.
However, I am embarrased at seeing a sentence.

---------------------------------------
China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint, but
to Washington's humiliation has refused to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean
ship in March 2010.
--------------------------------------

As I understand, in that sentence I think 'but' doesn't have any meaning or function.

I take in
restraint = refused to blame
So I think 'and' is appropriate instead of 'but'

But I am not a native, so what do I miss?

'

I

Hi

I'm not an expert at English too but here's how I understood it:

China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint, but
to Washington's humiliation has refused to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean
ship in March 2010.

"but to Washington's humiliation" is just an additional phrase for readers to know that Washington was humiliated because China refused to blame North Korea for sinking.....etc.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would be clearer punctuated like this: "China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint but, to Washington's humiliation, has refused to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean ship in March 2010."

 

[majinman]

then, 'but' doesn't function of reversing the setence "China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint" ?
and is China's attitude consistent?

I mean "China's urging ~ " has equal meaning with "refused to blame ~"?

And then, following setence has equal meaning with original sentence?
To Washington's humiliation, China has made a public show over the past two weeks of urging all sides to show restraint,
and refused to blame North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean ship in March 2010.

 

[Roman55]

I am not a teacher.

I agree with you.

The refusal to blame North Korea for the sinking of the South Korean ship displays restraint.

 

[Raymott]

I'd guess that the intended meaning relies on who wrote it, and for which audience. For Washington, China "showing restraint" might include its admission that North Korea sank the South Korean vessel.
I think it's a case for Discourse Analysis or pragmatics rather than grammar.

 

[majinman]

So hard to learn English....

 

[Rover_KE]

Nobody said it was easy.:-(

 

[Raymott]

So hard to learn English....

And learning Korean is easy?