"Sir John Howard" <sirjohnhoward@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:7fcd1b63-04c0-4d9c-b556-558331f900c7@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Kevin Rudd refuses to retract comments on Tibet
>
> http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23510917-2,00.html
>
> PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd's message that there are significant human
> rights problems in Tibet has been labelled "totally unfounded" by
> Chinese officials.
>
> Speaking in Mandarin to hundreds of Chinese students, Mr Rudd said
> Australians were concerned about the situation in Tibet, where Chinese
> forces have mounted a bloody crackdown on dissidents.
>
> Chinese officials reacted angrily during a press conference televised
> live across the nation, calling Mr Rudd's comments totally unfounded.
>
> But, ignoring a diplomatic protest against similar comments last week,
> Mr Rudd said all parties needed to find a peaceful solution and called
> for Chinese officials to talk directly with the Tibetan spiritual
> leader the Dalai Lama.
>
> He vowed to raise his concerns directly with Chinese Premier Wen
> Jiabao when they meet at the Great Hall of the People tomorrow.
>
> "Australia, like most other countries, recognises China's sovereignty
> over Tibet," Mr Rudd told the students at Peking University, hours
> after arriving in Beijing.
>
> "But we also believe it is necessary to recognise there are
> significant human rights problem in Tibet.
>
> "The current situation in Tibet is of concern to Australians.
>
> "We recognise the need for all parties to avoid violence and find a
> solution through dialogue.
> "As a long-standing friend of China I intend to have a straightforward
> discussion with China's leaders on this."
>
> The speech was the first event of Mr Rudd's four-day visit to China
> and is set to dominate his discussions with Premier Wen and President
> Hu Jintao.
>
> Tibetan Regional Government chairman Xiangba Puncog later told a press
> conference in Beijing that the comments were "totally unfounded".
>
> "Australia, or other countries, should have better appreciation and
> understanding of the fact that people in Tibet are now enjoying
> democracy and have wonderful human rights protection," he said.
>
> "Those remarks are totally unfounded."
>
> Mr Rudd told re****ters he stood by his comments and played down their
> impact on the relation****p between the two countries.
>
> "You have a relation****p which is capable of handling disagreement and
> putting views in a straightforward fa****on," he said.
>
> "That's what I said I'd be doing in my remarks earlier today and
> that's what I will be doing.
>
> "I stand by the comments I made earlier on this matter."
>
> But Mr Rudd has also risked angering China by backing the right of
> protesters to target the Olympic torch relay, which will arrive in
> Canberra on April 24.
>
> "People can express their view in whatever way they want ... I'm sure
> people will make their own call on that," Mr Rudd said in Beijing.
>
> Chinese officials had already raised Mr Rudd's earlier comments on
> Tibet with Australian ambassador Geoff Raby in Beijing, and in
> Canberra, Chinese ambassador Zhang Junsai conveyed the protest to an
> Australian foreign affairs official.
>
> However, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman
> said no formal written complaint had been lodged.
>
> Mr Rudd said relations with China would always be complex.
>
> "The relation****p with China is always going to be complex, it's
> always going to be challenging. I accept that," he said.
>
> "I made those comments in Wa****ngton, I stand by them. I think this
> relation****p is broad enough to tolerate disagreement."
>
> Despite his comments on Tibet, the university students gave Mr Rudd a
> warm reception, praising his command of their language.
>
> Everyone who asked a question made note of the special understanding
> the former diplomat has of their culture.
>
> Mr Rudd won the students over with a number of jokes, including one
> about his study of Chinese calligraphy during his days at the
> Australian National University.
>
> Calligraphy was not his forte, he admitted.
>
> "My calligraphy was ugly then - and it's even uglier now," he said.
>
> -------------------------------
>
> What a wanker! ha ha ha!
Hopefully he'll get the Tibetan hoo-ha out of the way and focus on trade
op****tunities.
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