Rudd's dealing with China so far

Comments on Greg Sheridan “PM's stand on Beijing pleases Obama”, 19/08/2009, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25950437-5013460,00.html

Rudd is having a difficult task for himself in dealing with the relations with the US and China. While he may have earned praise from Obama administration, he may have created a lot of difficulties for his proposal of an Asia Pacific community (APC), in which the two most important players are the US and China.

While Rudd has seemingly more expertise in dealing with the Chinese due to his diplomatic post in Beijing and his mandarin language skill, he does appear from time to time to overestimate the tolerance of the Chinese on some sensitive issues and cause unnecessary tensions between Canberra and Beijing. That does not help his cause of the APC.

Canberra wants to play a middle power and softly influential role in shaping the outcomes of the strategic relations in the Asia and Pacific region in the next 20 years and beyond. That does require discipline and discreet and high diplomatic skills.

To manage the relations with two almost equally important partners, the most important thing is balance.

Rudd has done well in some areas so far, but not so well in some other very important areas. That is a call of judgement that only he himself can make which is which and that most commentators probably can't.