CHN: Rudd's message on Tibet angers Chinese officials

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2008
CHN: Rudd's message on Tibet angers Chinese officials

By Sandra O'Malley, Diplomatic Correspondent

BEIJING, April 9 AAP - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has delivered a blunt message to China
in a speech in Beijing, saying there are significant human rights problems in Tibet.

Speaking in Mandarin to hundreds of Chinese students, Mr Rudd said Australians were
concerned about the situation in Tibet, where Chinese forces have mounted a bloody crackdown
on dissidents.

Chinese officials reacted angrily during a press conference televised live across the
nation, calling Mr Rudd's comments totally unfounded.

But, ignoring a diplomatic protest against similar comments last week, Mr Rudd said
all parties needed to find a peaceful solution and called for Chinese officials to talk
directly with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

He vowed to raise his concerns directly with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao when they meet
at the Great Hall of the People tomorrow.

"Australia, like most other countries, recognises China's sovereignty over Tibet,"

Mr Rudd told the students at Peking University, hours after arriving in Beijing.

"But we also believe it is necessary to recognise there are significant human rights
problem in Tibet.

"The current situation in Tibet is of concern to Australians.

"We recognise the need for all parties to avoid violence and find a solution through dialogue.

"As a long-standing friend of China I intend to have a straightforward discussion with
China's leaders on this."

The speech was the first event of Mr Rudd's four-day visit to China and is set to dominate
his discussions with Premier Wen and President Hu Jintao.

Tibetan Regional Government chairman Xiangba Puncog later told a press conference in
Beijing that the comments were "totally unfounded".

"Australia, or other countries, should have better appreciation and understanding of
the fact that people in Tibet are now enjoying democracy and have wonderful human rights
protection," he said.

"Those remarks are totally unfounded."

Mr Rudd told reporters he stood by his comments and played down their impact on the
relationship between the two countries.

"You have a relationship which is capable of handling disagreement and putting views
in a straightforward fashion," he said.

"That's what I said I'd be doing in my remarks earlier today and that's what I will be doing.

"I stand by the comments I made earlier on this matter."

But Mr Rudd has also risked angering China by backing the right of protesters to target
the Olympic torch relay, which will arrive in Canberra on April 24.

"People can express their view in whatever way they want ... I'm sure people will make
their own call on that," Mr Rudd said in Beijing.

Chinese officials had already raised Mr Rudd's earlier comments on Tibet with Australian
ambassador Geoff Raby in Beijing, and in Canberra, Chinese ambassador Zhang Junsai conveyed
the protest to an Australian foreign affairs official.

However, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said no formal
written complaint had been lodged.

Mr Rudd said relations with China would always be complex.

"The relationship with China is always going to be complex, it's always going to be
challenging. I accept that," he said.

"I made those comments in Washington, I stand by them. I think this relationship is
broad enough to tolerate disagreement."

Despite his comments on Tibet, the university students gave Mr Rudd a warm reception,
praising his command of their language.

Everyone who asked a question made note of the special understanding the former diplomat
has of their culture.

Mr Rudd won the students over with a number of jokes, including one about his study
of Chinese calligraphy during his days at the Australian National University.

Calligraphy was not his forte, he admitted.

"My calligraphy was ugly then - and it's even uglier now," he said.

Mr Rudd was due to speak to business leaders at a financial services lunch and attend
a cultural exhibition tonight.

AAP so/mfh/sb/sp

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