Australia shows the way in International Relations. Again, leading the world

[panama hat]

Our dear PM, the much-hailed Hon. K. Rudd esq . . . former diplomat and Sinophile, expert in Asian politics . . .

Whaling and off-colour remarks upset Asia
PHILLIP COOREY
June 7, 2010
THE Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, faces fresh problems with Australia's Asian neighbours after the reporting of disparaging remarks he made about China, and the government's decision to take legal action against Japan over whaling.

The Herald has learnt that Tokyo is incensed about the recent cabinet decision to take Japan to the International Court of Justice to stop it slaughtering whales.

Japanese officials believe the government is prepared to risk the relationship between the two countries to achieve a domestic political end.

As well as being popular domestically, the court action allows the government to sidestep further curly questions on the matter during an election year, the Japanese believe.

When the decision was announced last month, the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, called it a small matter.

''The agreement between Australia and Japan is that we will treat this matter in a calm, responsible and mature way,'' Mr Smith said.

Japanese officials disagree, with one senior diplomat calling it ''a big matter''.

Meanwhile, there has been no official word yet from China after backroom comments Mr Rudd made during last year's Copenhagen climate change conference were reported in an essay by the Herald journalist David Marr.

''Those Chinese f---ers are trying to ratf--k us,'' Mr Rudd reportedly told a group of journalists and officials during a background briefing.

It was well known at the time that the Chinese were co-ordinating the collapse of the talks, which had grave domestic consequences for Mr Rudd and eventually led him to abandon his emissions trading scheme.

Ratfuck? Ratfark?

Did I mention that he is colourful?

Whaling and off-colour remarks upset Asia

[PlanK]

An Aussie PM that didn't swear would surely bring shame on the whole country.

[sabang]

Upset your two largest export markets, real clever.

I think taking the Nips to Court over whaling was particularly dumb.

[Nawty]

Fuck the Nips.....someone has to stand up for the whales....good on Oz.

[AntRobertson]

Australia's problem when it comes to international relations is that they're just big enough to be noticed, not big enough to carry any weight.

Contrast New Zealand for instance, nobody could really give a toss what any PM says. John Key reading the 'Top 10' on the Letterman Show is probably the most noticed 'foreign policy' statement from a NZ PM for some time.

[sabang]

It seems Kevin Rudd is winning few friends in Canberra too-

If Australia saw him through Canberra's eyes, he would be done for. Though he has led until now a formidably disciplined first-term government - few leaks, only one minister lost - negotiated the global banking crisis of 2008 with exemplary skill, pulled off the great symbolic coup of the Apology and routed two opposition leaders, the capital is tired of him.

He's seen in that little world of power as a weird guy and a failing prime minister. He puzzles his caucus, frustrates his ministers and irritates the press. A habit of making endless speeches at big public events has earned the man - known at various times in his career as Dr Death, Pixie and Heavy Kevvie - a new nickname: the Castro of the South Pacific.

We need to talk about Kevin ... Rudd, that is

[panama hat]

An Aussie PM that didn't swear would surely bring shame on the whole country.

Ah, but can he drink beer? Added to which he looks like a little wanker

Upset your two largest export markets, real clever.

Yes, all for his popularity contest to get re-elected

I think taking the Nips to Court over whaling was particularly dumb.

Just another ploy for the next time around . . . and he says the Japanese are not upset. What a dickhead

Fuck the Nips.....someone has to stand up for the whales....good on Oz.

But he's not, nawty . . . he is doing it for his own selfish reasons

Australia's problem when it comes to international relations is that they're just big enough to be noticed, not big enough to carry any weight.

It's a problem of being the biggest in the classroom . . . Fiji, NZ, Samoa etc . . . and being tiny on a global scheme

the Castro of the South Pacific.

I like that

[PlanK]

John Key reading the 'Top 10' on the Letterman Show is probably the most noticed 'foreign policy' statement from a NZ PM for some time.

He did manage recently to silence a room full of journos by annoucing he'd had the snip. Made minor headlines in some countries, apparently.

If only lawyers could be shut up so easily.

[zygote1]

1. Tokyo is incensed about the recent cabinet decision to take Japan to the International Court of Justice to stop it slaughtering whales.


2. It was well known at the time that the Chinese were co-ordinating the collapse of the talks, which had grave domestic consequences for Mr Rudd and eventually led him to abandon his emissions trading scheme.
''Those Chinese f---ers are trying to ratf--k us,'' Mr Rudd reportedly told a group of journalists and officials during a background briefing.

Ok, so what is so wrong with this? Is he wrong for turning to the courts to address an issue that involves allegations of violation of international law? The alternatives are;
a) To pretend that there is no problem, i.e. appeasement. That does not work with Japan. People looked the other way last century when Japanwas terrorizing China and Korea. A lot of Australians were tortured, starved, worked and killed trying to contain the expansionist slave master Japanese. Japan has never formally apologized for its atrocities. In the interim, whales and dolphin populations will be wiped out.
b) To send warships to protect Australian interests? As much as the Japanese deserve a good kick in the nads, the dispute is best setttled in the courts and not by armed conflict. Besides, Kim Il Jung is doing a good enough job terrifying Tojo's homeland.

And now for the Chinese strategy. Yea, so what's the problem? The Chinese position created a massive problem for Australia. I think Mr. Rudd had every reason to be angry. It's about time someone spoke to the Chinese in a way that impresses upon the land of environmental squander, the point at hand.

[panama hat]

Is he wrong for turning to the courts to address an issue that involves allegations of violation of international law?

He should check if it indeed dopes violate international law. Australia doe shave very good lawyers in this regard . . . electioneering and trying to bolster his sagging reputation is all it is

To pretend that there is no problem, i.e. appeasement. That does not work with Japan. People looked the other way last century when Japanwas terrorizing China and Korea.

Perhaps, just perhaps . . . people are living in today's world, not in your angst-ridden cubbyhole of the past. You are quite disingenuous in equating hunting whales and the deaths of Australian soldiers in WWII . . . not only disingenuous but also highly disrespectful

Japan has never formally apologized for its atrocities.

Ah, that old chestnut . . . bullshit. Try this on for size, though I am sure my effort is wasted on you:

Toward the end of the Occupation of Japan, Emperor Hirohito let it be known to SCAP that he was prepared to apologize formally to Gen. MacArthur for Japan's actions during World War II—including an apology for the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.[4]
Patrick Lennox Tierney was an eye-witness on the day the Emperor came to SAP headquarters to present this apology. When the emperor arrived, MacArthur refused to admit him or acknowledge him. When this happened, Tierney was in his office on the fifth floor of the Dai-Ichi Insurance Building in Tokyo. This was the same floor where MacArthur's suite was situated.[4]

June 22, 1965. Minister of Foreign Affairs Shiina Etsusaburo. "In our two countries' long history there have been unfortunate times, it is truly regrettable and we are deeply remorseful" (Signing of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea).

October 23, 1985. Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone. "On June 6, 1945, when the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, Japan was still fighting a senseless war with 40 nations. Since the end of the war, Japan has profoundly regretted the unleashing of rampant ultra nationalism and militarism and the war that brought great devastation to the people of many countries around the world and to our country as well" (Speech to the United Nations).

1989. Prime Minister Takeshita Noboru. "As we have made clear previously at repeated opportunities, the Japanese government and the Japanese people are deeply conscious of the fact that the actions of our country in the past caused suffering and loss to many people in neighboring countries. Starting from our regret and resolve not to repeat such things a second time, we have followed a course as a "Peace Nation" since then. This awareness and regret should be emphasized especially in the relationship between our countries and the Korean peninsula, our nearest neighbors both geographically and historically. At this opportunity as we face a new situation in the Korean peninsula, again, to all peoples of the globe, concerning the relationship of the past, we want to express our deep regret and sorrow (Speech in the Japanese Diet).

May 24, 1990. Emperor Akihito. "Reflecting upon the suffering that your people underwent during this unfortunate period, which was brought about by our nation, I cannot but feel the deepest remorse" (Meeting with President Roh Tae Woo). [14]

August 28, 1997. Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. "I believe that Japan has learned its lessons from history and that the people of Japan widely share the view that we must learn from the past for the future, without forgetting what is behind us. The year before last, former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama issued these words: '... through its colonial rule and aggression, [Japan] caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. ... I regard, in a spirit of humility, these irrefutable facts of history, and express here once again my feelings of deep remorse and state my heartfelt apology.' I am of the same mind as the former Prime Minister. Even though there are some elements in Japan that are quite capable of arousing Chinese sentiment with their rhetoric, Japan will not become a military power in the future. Our determination to continue treading the path of a peaceful nation is self-evident to us, the Japanese people. Still, however clear this may be to us, we must continue our persistent efforts so that China and the other nations of Asia have no reason to doubt us" (Speech by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Seeking a New Foreign Policy Toward China).[29]

September 17, 2002. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. "The Japanese side regards, in a spirit of humility, the facts of history that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its colonial rule in the past, and expressed deep remorse and heartfelt apology" (Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration).[43]

And there are dozens and dozens more but a bigot like you will never accept that . . . go on, do yourself proud and argue syntax and wording and the like . . . and continue to live in your little house of fear and anger

In the interim, whales and dolphin populations will be wiped out.

Really? Can you provide further information on the impending extinction of the world's whales and dolphins due to Japan's hunt?

To send warships to protect Australian interests?

That's because it is in International waters . . . or is that irrelevant to you and your gunboat diplomacy?

I think Mr. Rudd had every reason to be angry.

Sure, yes he does . . . and to behave in a manner of a tinpot dictaorship

[Jet Gorgon]

Great way to be a part of the Asia sphere. I bet the Oz ex-im traders are REAL happy.

[AntRobertson]

If only lawyers could be shut up so easily.

... It'll cost you!

[panama hat]

Great way to be a part of the Asia sphere. I bet the Oz ex-im traders are REAL happy.

I don't know much about the traders but it is fairly typical of Oz politicians to stuff things up when it is least affordable to do so . . .

What I don't get is that Australia has tried so hard for so long to be a part of Asia, yet when it looks like this is succeeding our elected half-wits decide to bugger it all up. To wit, Rudd, gaining China's favour by speaking mandarin, having experienced life in China and being a self-proclaimed sinophile . . . he then buggers it up with ridiculous comments like this.

[Nawty]

Doubt he would have actually said it....he loves chinks.

and he must love whales also....good on him.

[PlanK]

Go Kev!!!!!111

[mr Fred]

''Those Chinese f---ers are trying to ratf--k us,'' Mr Rudd reportedly told a group of journalists and officials during a background briefing.

It was well known at the time that the Chinese were co-ordinating the collapse of the talks, which had grave domestic consequences for Mr Rudd and eventually led him to abandon his emissions trading scheme.

Ratfuck? Ratfark?

Did I mention that he is colourful? [/QUOTE]

Colourful? Hope you don't mean black.

Ner. At least oz politicians say what they mean unlike that bunch of silly bastards we always get in the UK.
I can't say I always agree with him but at least he says it when he thinks it.

[Nawty]

he meant.....those Chinese foreigners are trying to ratfink us........nothing wrong with that at all.

[Mid]

Rudd is finished and the decision on whaling is the right one which should have been done years ago .

[Nawty]

If the Japs want to continue to eat whales....they should start a whale farm....much like America has.

[Bower]

If the Japs want to continue to eat whales....they should start a whale farm....much like America has.

Apart from thinking the slaughter of these magnificent creatures is dispicable, they dont even eat the meat, its just stockpiling up, they dont need this meat.
It has also turned up in S Korea, it is illegal to export it.
,

[panama hat]

Japan has never formally apologized for its atrocities.

Zygote?

[ENT]

I'd listen to what Rudd has to say about the chinks sooner than their explanation of events.

[Loy Toy]

Fook the Japs and save our whales.

[kingwilly]

Japan has never formally apologized for its atrocities. In the interim, whales and dolphin populations will be wiped out.

I think Mr. Rudd had every reason to be angry. It's about time someone spoke to the Chinese in a way that impresses upon the land of environmental squander, the point at hand.

I think Mr. Rudd had every reason to be angry. It's about time someone spoke to the Chinese in a way that impresses upon the land of environmental squander, the point at hand.

I was going to reply to all this garbage, but then I realised that PH has pretty much said it all.

greens owed (to PH, to you, reds for being a nutter)

[ENT]

I'm sure Rudd was warning us of an impending rat fuck/fack/feck/fek/froop uf the tuchus from da slopes.