Rudd confronts China on human rights

Emily Mader/09 April 2008/11:33pm/Human Rights

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used the first day of his four day trip to China to highlight human rights abuses occurring in the country to the chagrin of Beijing. Rudd was eagerly received by students during his speech at Peking University, but came under scrutiny by the Communist Party. Chinese officials claim that Prime Minister Rudd is ignorant of the history of Tibet and that the Tibetans are now safer from human rights violations than ever before. Rudd repeatedly stated that he would express his opinions and the opinions of his constituents and bring up these issues in diplomatic meetings held with Chinese officials during his trip. Furthermore, he stated that the Olympics will bring global attention to China, and it is a good opportunity for the country to foster healthy relations with other nations.

It makes me happy to see government officials do audacious things in the name of posterity and principle. In his speech, Prime Minister Rudd stated that he would work his best to represent the voice of the Australian public, and the fact that he is really doing that is commendable. It is interesting that the Chinese government, rather than have a public debate to settle these issues, instead falls back on foreign ignorance as an excuse for the misinterpretation of events. I feel that in order for the Chinese government to convince the world that what they are doing is not wrong they need to come up with a better defense than that.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-confronts-china-over-tibet/2008/04/09/1207420486421.html