Whither Australian Foreign Policy?
Asia-Pacific policies of John Howard and Kevin Rudd on stage at APEC
Sep 22, 2007
The 2007 APEC Summit in Sydney displayed two possible directions for Australia in the Asia-Pacific region. They were encapsulated by the stark contrasts in language and behaviour of Prime Minister John Howard and Kevin Rudd, Leader of the Opposition.
Kevin Rudd Meets George Bush
When Kevin Rudd met the US President the scheduled ten minutes lengthened to twenty or more. Rudd presented George Bush with two books: a biography of John Curtin, the Australian architect of the alliance with the US; and a treatise on Chinese diplomacy in East Asia. This gift neatly symbolises the direction Australian foreign policy will take if the Australian Labor Party wins the coming federal election. Rudd is committed to maintaining a strong – but not unerringly compliant – alliance with the US while also asserting that the Bush administration’s way of relating to China and the rest of East Asia should change dramatically.
John Howard Meets George Bush
In contrast, throughout the APEC Summit Bush and Howard were effusive in talking of their personal friendship, shared values and similar views on foreign policy, especially the waging of war in Iraq which has pulled down Howard’s popularity in Australia. Questioned about the poor electoral support for Howard, Bush praised the courage and fighting ability of the “man of steel”. Bush made it plain that he hoped Howard would win the coming Federal election.
John Howard Meets President Hu Jintao
To the current Australian Government, due to “cultural differences” trade is the only way to be friendly with China. Howard greeted the Chinese President eagerly and the two affirmed the friendship between their respective countries. Howard announced the signing of a $45 billion gas deal with China – normally the sort of event that would receive clamorous support.
Kevin Rudd Meets Hu Jintao
Yet, in the eyes of news media, business and community, Rudd still upstaged Howard. Addressing a luncheon attended by the Chinese President, Howard and the “who’s who” of Australian business, Rudd spoke directly to Hu Jintao for two minutes in excellent Mandarin Chinese. He summarised his professional, personal and family ties with China – how he had lived as a diplomat in Beijing in the 1980s with his wife and children, how his daughter has since married an Australian Chinese, how his older son has studied at Shanghai’s Fundan University, and how his younger son hates his homework but has begun studying Chinese language at high school. Rudd also described his family’s “particular love” for Beijing, its people and its culture. The Chinese delegation applauded him with obvious delight, while Howard received an English translation.
Later Rudd had a scheduled half-hour meeting with Hu Jintao which, at the latter’s request, they conducted completely in Mandarin Chinese. Rudd’s thirty years of study of Chinese history, culture and language was obvious. Hu was so impressed that he invited Rudd and his family to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. Rudd readily accepted the invitation.
Australia’s Future Relations with Asia
As a vote-winner for Howard the APEC Summit was a failure. Rudd’s long-standing domination of the regular political polls continued, suggesting that Australia’s foreign policy development is likely to be in his hands after the next Federal election. Expect the alliance with the US to remain strong but with points of firm disagreement, notably over Iraq and foreign policy. Australia will engage vigorously with East Asian economies and enter into much more intimate, energetic diplomatic and cultural relations with them. To this end a Rudd Government will keenly promote and fund Asian studies – including languages – among the Australian people. The aim will be to neutralise any “cultural differences” that Howard asserted were obstacles to warmth and understanding between Australia and East Asia.
