Comments on: 陸克文

By: Jill Waterhoouse

Jill Waterhoouse — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:37:36 +0000

Stephen Fewings – or anyone else. Can you please tell me more about Rudd’s studies in Chinese at the Australian National University? Thanks, Jill

By: Kerim Friedman

Kerim Friedman — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 01:58:15 +0000

Prince Roy

For the economic reasons you mention, any Aussie politician will continue to pursue close relations with the PRC, as is the case with just about every other country in the world with the exception of Taiwan’s few bought-and-paid-for allies. With that argument we really shouldn’t even be concerned about what anyone thinks of Taiwan because its already a done deal.

However, if you aren’t an economic determinist, and you don’t see the world in black-and-white, you’ll appreciate that there are many different ways in which the Australian government could pursue closer relations with the PRC, and that a leader who is appreciative of Taiwan’s vibrant democracy will be less likely to sacrifice it along the way.

By: Scott Sommers

Scott Sommers — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:29:17 +0000

I didn’t mean my comment as a criticism of your post. It’s probably true that the experiences that produced Rudd’s Mandarin fluency have made him a particular kind of person. Perhaps I am just too jaded by the drivel one hears while language teaching that passes for scholarship. In language teaching, it is commonly stated that one road to world peace and intraspecies harmony is through knowledge of other languages. It is almost a professional coda that speaking other languages will make you a more liberal and culturally tolerant person.

By: Prince Roy

Prince Roy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:50:14 +0000

What did you read there that make you think this will be any different for Taiwan? If anything, the election of Rudd will mean even more full steam ahead for Oz-PRC relations.

The whole Oz econ boom is heavily concentrated in its mining industries, and guess who their major purchaser is? If you said Taiwan, shame on you–here’s your dunce cap and get thee to the back of the class.

By: Kerim Friedman

Kerim Friedman — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:33:27 +0000

Scott, I think that is a different issue. The Japanese have a very Whorfian view of the association between language, culture and thought. My point was simply that compared with his xenophobic predecessor we have a world leader who takes an active interest in other cultures, including learning a particularly difficult second language. Speaking English also has different resonances in many cultures due to the perceived hegemony of English as an international language.

By: Scott Sommers

Scott Sommers — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 03:25:38 +0000

I am certain that Prime Minister Rudd’s Mandarin is better than mine, I can’t shake tyhe feeling of being here before. Back in 1992, the then PM of of Japan Kiichi Miyazawa was repreatedly chastized for speaking English in public to foreign dignitaries. The implication of all this being that foreign language skill and the circustances that create it indicate something different about the way one thinks.

By: Left Flank

Left Flank — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:59:41 +0000

Rudd’s Election Signals True East Asian Consensus…

New PM Kevin Rudd brings with his defeat of John Howard the hope of a new diplomatic agenda for East Asia
……

By: Stephen Fewings

Stephen Fewings — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:56:25 +0000

Kevin Rudd is a real sinophile though his real love is foreign affairs in general. His honours thesis was on dissident Wei Jing-sheng and the history of Chinese human rights.
Australia is small fry internationally but I have huge hope that he can help navigate a clear path for China to the rest of the world.
From what I hear, see and understand he would not allow Taiwan to be trampled by China. Though he is a diplomat and now represents the best interests of the people of Australia.

By: Michael Turton

Michael Turton — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:40:03 +0000

George Bush Classic speaks Cantonese, doesn’t he.

Nice analysis, Kerim.

Michael

By: Kerim Friedman

Kerim Friedman — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:00:56 +0000

Thanks for the heads up. It seems he went to ShiDa 台灣師範大學 for some time while in college, and worked in Beijing for some time in the Australian foreign service during the eighties.