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Australian PM Gives Yanks Advice on China |
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Tuesday, 21 April 2009 |
 Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged Americans not to view China as an enemy but as a country offering huge economic opportunities, even though its leaders have "done some bad things in the past."
Mr Rudd made his comments during a visit to Washington, where the Chinese-speaking former diplomat has been welcomed as an expert on China as well as a close ally of the United States.
Mr Rudd was asked on the PBS television program "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" whether Americans should view China as an ally, an enemy, or some other way.
"I think China represents a huge opportunity for us all for the 21st century," Mr Rudd replied, noting it has a big part to play as "the center of global economic gravity" shifts toward the Asia-Pacific region.
"Therefore, when you look at China in the future, I don't think
anything is to be served by simply assuming it's all going to go bad,"
Mr Rudd said.
He said the "smart course of action" for the United States and
Australia would be to help integrate China into global political,
economic and security institutions and engage Beijing on climate change.
"Now, if China was to turn its back on that or not be responsible, the
world would soon know," Mr Rudd said. "They're not perfect. They've
done some bad things in the past. But let's look at the opportunities,
rather than simply assume it's all threat and all risk."
The comments came as the U.S. Defense Department said in a report that
China's rapidly growing military strength was shifting the military
balance in the Asia-Pacific and could be used to force its claims to
disputed territories, such as Taiwan.
They also followed recent tensions between the U.S. and China after
Chinese vessels this month harassed the Navy surveillance ship USNS
Impeccable in international waters in the South China Sea.
U.S.-China military-to-military talks had just been resumed a week
earlier after a five-month suspension over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
The U.S., Australia and other Western countries also regularly express
concern about Beijing's human rights record and tough rule in Tibet.
The interview was conducted hours after Mr Rudd held talks with
President Barack Obama at the White House, where the leaders discussed
the war in Afghanistan, the global financial crisis and climate change.
Mr Rudd is touting the G-20 forum as a key tool in tackling the
financial meltdown and is urging that China be given a greater voice in
the grouping and other international organizations such as the
International Monetary Fund.
Leaders of the 20 wealthiest and developing economies are to hold a
summit on April 2 in London that many hope will find a strategy for
steering the world economy out of recession and help develop a stronger
international financial system.
After their meeting, Mr Obama praised Mr Rudd's government for "the
kind of vision not just domestically but on the international stage
that we greatly admire."
"In the run-up to the G-20, I feel that there's a great meeting of the
minds between Prime Minister Rudd and myself in terms of how we should
approach it," Mr Obama told reporters.
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