President Bush has been making some remarkably non-diplomatic foreign policy musings lately. First, whilst on his way to the Olympic ceremony, Bush made the following unequivocal statements at a press conference in Bangkok:
America stands in firm opposition to China’s detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists. We press for openness and justice — not to impose our beliefs but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs.
Then apparently, he was, according to the Australian Prime Minister, engaged in "animated conversation" with Russian PM, Vladimir Putin, presumably about Russia's territorial invasion of the sovereign Republic of Georgia:
Mr Rudd said that Mr Bush appeared to be making a strong point to the Russian Prime Minister, even as the world's elite athletes filed into Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium.
On the other hand, here is how our PM represented the position of the Australian government when it comes to human rights in China:
The responsibility of the international community is still to speak with a strong united voice on these questions, while recognising that over time some progress has been made in China. Remember it was not all that long ago they were in the middle of the Cultural Revolution where people were being put up against a wall and basically knocked off.
Yes, Mr Rudd, and it was also not long ago, that China was an economic basket case. But even more interesting were comments he made, that I heard on a nightly news broadcast (I can't find the quote online or at the PM's website). When asked by a reporter what he made of President Bush's castigation of China's repression of human rights, Rudd answered that Australia has it's own foreign policy. Namely, he refused to be drawn into supporting a clear cut position on human rights in China. Instead, he preferred to maintain "they've come a long way" line on China, ignoring that they have a long way to go.
However, when it comes to the situation in Georgia, the PM does not find it as difficult to criticise Russia and its invasion of Georgia:
Our position, like the Americans, is that it's important for peace and stability to return to this part of Georgia. We recognise and continue to recognise Georgia's soverignty over Ossetia and therefore it's important that Russia cease its military involvement. This problem in Ossetia has been brewing for quite some time. Certainly the timing of the actions on the part of the Russians, that's a question best put to them. What I know is the international community is speaking with one voice in support of the cessation of hostilities by the Russians.
So when not discussing China, he is happy to be united with the foreign policy position of the United States and happy to hold unequivocal policy positions.
One common thread running through both issues is Rudd's reference to a united international community: "responsibility of the international community is still to speak with a strong united voice" and "the international community is speaking with one voice". Whilst, this is a noble objective, it is also the sort of utopian fantasy that you would expect from an "internationalist".
Foreign affairs is a game where you necessarily have competing interests. Consider any of the big foreign policy issues of late. Action against Iran is impossible given the patronage provided by Russia. Likewise with Darfur and China. Likewise with South Ossetia and Russia. Likewise with North Korea and China. Likewise with Venezuela and Russia. What united international community Mr Rudd?
Foreign policy needs to be anchored in a deep conviction of the values we espouse; those enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights. Although even those are beginning to be challenged by Arab nations who prefer infidels be slaughtered than have the freedom to worship the god of their choosing (or not).