China: Our man in Australia?

Global Voices Olympics Chinese president Hu Jintao likes Australia's new Prime Minister, who served as a diplomat to China in the 80s, so much that he invited Kevin Rudd and his family to next year's Olympics months before Rudd would go on to defeat incumbent John Howard in this past weekend's election.

What might Chinese bloggers make of Rudd's extensive China connection? NetEase made the story its top feature for most of Sunday, Nov. 25.

MSN Live Spaces blogger Huang Xiaoyu with “Kevin Rudd's Victory” writes from his international student dorms somewhere in Australia:

凌晨的时候听说小陆胜了.果然和这里的媒体和民调预计的一样.工党顺利执政.替换了已经执政11年之久的自由党国家执政联盟.
消息公布之后.我们的国内的媒体到是颇为兴奋.sina网上出了很多的报道.CCTV9也进行了专访.
最感兴趣一点.也就是这个新总理会讲中文.给了中澳关系一个美丽的遐想空间.中国人民包括我们那么多留学生来说自然多了些憧憬.
此人的施政纲领,其中几点我比较感兴趣.一个是优质教育系统的建立和教育经费的增加.不过这个貌似也是09年的计划了.不知道对我有没有什么实质的影响.
另外一个是改进网络建设.看看这里的破网络.比国内还落后的512KADSL就知道真的要改改了.
其余的比如医疗和社会保障.签< 京都议定书>和伊拉克撤军之类的事情和我们切身关系暂不太强烈.

不过我觉得他获胜的另一个法宝是对手已老.霍华德这个老秃驴每天在大家眼底下晃了11年.大家已经看的厌恶了.
另外我还是觉得无论霍华德继续执政还是小陆上台.对中澳关系的大局来说并无太大影响.只是此人更熟悉中国.
亲美的立场也不会改变.且其美中关系中的微妙纽带的作用变得愈加清晰.
早上一上线又看到法国总统启程访华了.而且还带着1000亿的合同意向而去.
这个时代对中国人来说.是一个充满希望的时代.在经过200年的压迫和斗争之后.一切就如命运之轮一样滚滚而来…

After midnight, I heard that Rudd had won. As expected, judging from media predictions and voter polls here. The Labour Party rode in smoothly, replacing the Liberal-National Party coalition after 11 years in power.
After the news came out, Chinese domestic media got all excited. Sina put out a number of reports, and CCTV International had their own exclusive.
What's most interesting is that this new Prime Minister can speak Chinese, a sweet dream for Sino-Australian relations. Chinese people, including all us international students, have been longing for something like this.
Within his administrative platform are several points I'm especially interested in, one of which is raising standards and funding for education. Though it seems this is planned for 2009, so I don't know how much it will affect me.
Another is improvement of the internet infrastructure. Just look at how crap the internet is here, at 512 K ADSL it's even more behind that the mainland…so they know they have to change that.
The rest, things like health care and social security, signing the Kyoto Protocol and withdrawing troops from Iraq, don't have much bearing on us at all.

Though, I do think that one of his trump cards to getting elected is how old his opponent is. John Howard this old bald donkey has been swaying in front of everyone's eyes for eleven years already. People are just sick and tired of seeing him.
Also, I feel that regardless if Rudd won or Howard were to stay on, it still wouldn't have all that big an impact on the overall Sino-Australian relations. The only difference is that Rudd is just more familiar with China.
The Americanist stance won't change. Only that Australia's role of having subtle ties to Sino-American relations will become clearer
This morning as soon as I got on the internet, I saw that the president of France is now visiting China, and he's brought with him 100 billion in contracts in mind.
For China, this era is an era full of hope. After 200 years of oppression and struggle, it's like everything is back on track just like Wheel of Fortune…

Also writing from Australia is DreamhouseLHH1106 with “Who is Kevin Rudd?”:

陆克文是Who
这几天是澳洲的大选,
各种媒体上都是和大选有关的消息
一打开电视
整段都是介绍选举的情况
当记者问选民对大选的看法时,
多数人都用了boring这个词
偶在想既然很多人都觉的boring,
电视台还有别的媒体,为什么总是不停的放选举
难道是因为好莱钨的编剧罢工,导致电视台没有美剧放,
才拿选举充数
昨晚,选举结果出来了
工党的陆克文击败了自由党的霍华德,出任了澳洲的新总理
陆克文的获胜一方面是因为他提出的福利政策吸引了选民
澳洲这几年经济增长很快,
但老百姓除了收入有些增加,福利并没有得到很好的提高
(其实澳洲的福利已经很好了,在发达国家中也是数一数二的)
这一点似乎和中国有些像
而有着苦难童年的陆克文便大打福利牌,从而吸引了多数选民

另一方面,他的中国背景又为他吸引了N多的亚洲选民
陆克文虽是土生土长的澳洲白人,
但他会说一口流利的中文
在大学时,他的专业便是中文和中国历史
大学毕业后,他曾在北京工作过八年
不仅如此他的三个孩子均会说中文
他的小儿子现在在复旦大学深造
工党一向比较倾亚洲
随着亚裔尤其是中国移民的增加
陆克文自然为获胜增加了砝码
偶倒觉得,陆克文挺有先见之明,
能在三十年前选择当时很冷门的中文做为自己的专业
其实现在在西方,无论是政界还是商界,如果有在中国或是亚洲有工作学习的背景,
那么对自己的事业发展是很有好处的
就是不知道西方人是不是也象中国那样有“海归”一说
陆克文是Who
从今天起,他是澳洲的总理。

Who is Rudd?
Australia's had an election these past few days
All the media are full of news of it
The second you turn on the TV
It's all covering the election
When reporters ask voters what their thoughts on the election are
Most are using the word ‘boring’
I'm thinking that since most people think this is boring
Why are the TV stations and other media covering the election nonstop?
It's not because Hollywood screenwriters are on strike is it, leaving the stations with no sitcoms to run
Thus running the election instead?
Last night the results finally came out
The Labour Party's Kevin Rudd beat the Liberal-Nationals’ John Howard, and Australia now has a new Prime Minister
Rudd won partly because his proposals on social welfare drew voters
Australia's economy has been picking up quickly these last few years
But for the average person rising wages aside, welfare hasn't been keeping up so well
(actually Australia's social welfare is already great, one of the best of all developed countries)
On this point it has a little in common with China
And for Rudd, who himself had a rough childhood to play the welfare card, drew many voters
On the other hand, his China background also drew him huge numbers of Asian voters
Although Rudd is a born-and-raised white Australian
He still speaks fluent Chinese
In university he majored in Chinese and Chinese history
After university he worked in Beijing for eight years
Not just that his three children can all speak Chinese
His son is doing post-grad studies at Fudan right now
The Labour Party has always been pro-Asia
With numbers of Asian—especially Chinese—immigrants on the rise
Rudd naturally worked that to get the win
But I still feel that Rudd's got great foresight
Thirty years ago when Chinese was so unpopular he went and chose it for a major
Though actually now in the West, be it the political or corporate world, anyone with a work or education background in China or Asia
Has got great prospects for their own career development
Only who knows if Westerners can “be overseas” like us Chinese
Who is Rudd?
Starting today, he's Australia's Prime Minister

Mainland bloggers picked up quickly that Rudd's son is now studying in Shanghai; from comments left on a NetEase report on the news:

2007-11-24 18:33:40 发表
他的儿子在复旦大学读书,上海女注意了,好机会来了~
回复 精华推荐 支持(584) 反对(1) 举报

His son is now studying in Fudan University. Shanghai women, pay attention, a good opportunity has come your way…
Support (584) Oppose (1)

2007-11-24 18:35:08 发表
中国通=对中国友好?
回复 精华推荐 支持(369) 反对(0) 举报

Old China hand=Friendly to China?
Support (369) Oppose (0)

2007-11-24 18:42:43 发表
就怕对中国太了解 反而
回复 精华推荐 支持(289) 反对(0) 举报

I'm just worried he knows China too well
Support (289) Oppose (0)

2007-11-24 18:43:07 发表
他的儿子在复旦大学读书,上海女注意了,好机会来了~
就怕他儿子看不上.
回复 精华推荐 支持(154) 反对(0) 举报

“His son is now studying in Fudan University. Shanghai women, pay attention, a good opportunity has come your way…
I just hope his son isn't ugly

2007-11-24 18:34:16 发表
祝贺陆克文,
希望澳大利亚在陆相领导下更发达,
希望在陆相领导下的澳大利亚更多了解中国,
希望澳大利亚和中国更友好更和睦!
回复 精华推荐 支持(130) 反对(2) 举报

Congratulations, Rudd,
I hope Australia continues to develop under Rudd's leadership,
I hope Australia under Rudd's leadership can better come to understand China,
and I hope that Australia and China can be even friendlier and on better terms!
Support (130) Oppose (2)

2007-11-24 18:35:52 发表
这家伙就是上次去美国看脱衣舞的吧..哈..中文讲的不错..
回复 精华推荐 支持(94) 反对(1) 举报

Wasn't this the guy who once went to see strippers on a trip to America? Ha..his Chinese is not bad..

2007-11-24 18:23:27 发表
希望他对我国真正的友好
回复 精华推荐 支持(79) 反对(1) 举报

I really do hope he is friendly to China

2007-11-24 21:03:25 发表
中国人应该自信,陆克文确实对中国好感。女儿嫁华人,儿子学中文,自己汉语流利(虽然与大山没得比!)自卑的人最可悲,洋人对你好,你以为别有用心。洋人欺负你就以为他们强,你自己就该是洋奴!现在流行吃里扒外啊!
回复 精华推荐 支持(76) 反对(0) 举报

Chinese people should believe it, Rudd definitely feels good about China. His daughter is married to a Chinese, his son is studying Chinese, and he himself speaks fluent Chinese (though he doesn't come close to Dashan!) Inferior types have it so bad; Foreigners are nice to you, and you think they're up to something. When foreigners bully you, you see them as strong. You deserve to be a slave to foreigners! It really is popular to sell your own people out now!

Sina blogger Old Thrift posts this photo:

And back to Australia, Sina blogger Gong Xuezhong lashes out with “Now that Rudd has won, the infantilism has begun”:

我看了中国的网络,一片欢呼声,都认为,澳大利亚产生了一个亲中国的政府首脑,预示着澳大利亚将给中国带来很多好处。
我笑了笑,连嘴也不用捂的,便斥之曰:“幼稚!”
新加坡是什么国家,华人国家。亲中国吗?
以色列总理是哈尔滨长大的,他爹的墓还在哈尔滨。亲中国吗?
布什年轻时随他爹(任驻北京联络处主任)在北京生活了好几年。亲中国吗?
韩国,从人种,到文化,压根就是中国的种,亲中国吗?
日本,从人种,到文化,压根就是中国的种,亲中国吗?
台湾……亲你吗?

没有无缘无故的爱,也没有无缘无故的恨。亲不亲,阶级分。
这个“阶级”及其“立场”是什么呢?
一是,“反中”。不要以为,西方国家反对中国,是因为中国是一个共产党统治的国家。那是骗人的理由。西方反对中国,就是因为你是中国,因为你越来越强大了。看看俄罗斯,早不是共产党国家了,却越来越是西方国家的肉中刺了。
二是,“反共”。这当然是为他们的第一个理由找理由了。例如,西方就不反对越南,因为越南太弱小了,不会威胁到他们。
三是,“反华”,因为你不是他们的“族类”。

陆克文要当总理了,让他的党徒们高兴吧。而我们,是无论如何找不到任何理由高兴的,因为,克文兄仍然要象他的前人那样,继续履行与美国的军事同盟协议,继续与日本、美国实施对中国的实际上的军事包围,继续像他的前任那样接见达赖……原因呢,一是因为他必须“反中”,二是因为他必须“反共”,三是因为他必须“反华”。根本的原因,是“阶级斗争”……

I was looking through some Chinese websites, they're all cheering; the way they all see it, now that Australia has a Sinophile as head of state, this just indicates how much more to China's advantage Australia will be from now on.
I laughed and laughed, so hard I couldn't speak, all I could get out was—”childish!”
What kind of country is Singapore? It's an ethnic Chinese country. Is it pro-China?
Israel's Prime Minister grew up in Harbin, his father's grave is in Harbin. Is Israel pro-China?
When Bush was young he followed his dad (who was director the the liaison office in Beijing) to Beijing for a few years. Is he pro-China?
Korea, from race to culture, has roots in China. Is Korea pro-China?
Japan, from race to culture, has roots in China. Is Japan pro-China?
Taiwan…shall I stop now?

Love doesn't just come without a reason, nor does hate. Pro- or not, irrespective of class.
So just what is this “class” and what are its “positions”?
One, “anti-China.” Don't think that Western countries are anti-China just because China is a Communist state. Only liars use that reason. Western countries are anti-China just because you are China, because you grow stronger and stronger. Take a look at Russia, which hasn't been communist for years, but is increasingly the thorn in Western countries’ sides.
Two, “anti-Communist.” This is of course is an excuse made for their real reason. For example, Western countries are not anti-Vietnam, because Vietnam is too weak and small, and cannot threaten them.
Three, “anti-Chinese, because you're not the same “breed” as them.

Rudd is going to be Prime Minister; I bet this minions will be happy. And us, no matter what we won't be able to find any reason whatsoever to be happy about this. Because Rudd is gonna be just like the ones who came before him, carrying out the military alliance with America, who together with Japan, will continue to keep China's military contained, doing just like his predecessor in meeting with the Dalai……and why? One because he must be “anti-China,” two because he must be “anti-Communist,” and three because he must be “anti-Chinese.” The root cause, is “class struggle….”

Somewhat similarly, the HoopChina BBS author '30 point lag’ was inspired by the influential and slightly fanatical nationalist blogger/Starbucks boycotter/CCTV International Anchorman Rui Chenggang's lengthy exclusive interview with Rudd, “My Best Australian Friend Who Became Prime Minister” [zh], to provide his own profile and a thread for discussion:

他本人在本科阶段的专业是中文学习了古代汉语、现代汉语、中国历史、中国文学、中国哲学(恐怕他的中文水平比大部分国人都要强),他三个孩子都学习汉语,女儿今年与一位香港华人结婚。大儿子现在在大学读法律,同时也学习汉语,水平不错,前年曾到上海复旦大学读书,小儿子还在初中,也在学习汉语。
很好,很强大~~
[1 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 22:29|

He himself during undergraduate majored in Chinese, studying classical Chinese, modern Chinese, Chinese history, Chinese literature and Chinese philosophy (and I'm afraid to say that his Chinese is better than that of most Chinese people), and his three children have all studied Chinese. His daughter is married to a Chinese Hong Konger. His son has been studying law and Chinese (and he's pretty good) at Fudan University for the past two years. His younger son is still in high school, and is also studying Chinese.
It's great, very mighty~~

刚看了新闻 说的确挺不错~
[2 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 22:39|

I've just seen the news; his Chinese really is not bad~

赢得大选乐啊~
[3 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 22:41|

So happy he won the election~

不知道什么路道。
[7 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 23:00|

Who knows how things will turn out.

长相也有中国人的轮廓
[8 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 23:06|

He's kind of shaped like a Chinese

This guy is cool…
[9 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 23:13|

This guy is cool…

转一个文章上关于陆克文的碎碎念~~
1、“陆克文”这个中文名字是大学期间拉德为自己取的,曾赴中国台湾留学。他不仅了解“三个代表”和“科学发展观”,而且对孔子的“中庸之道”和老子的“无为而治”等中国古老的哲学思想也颇有自己的见解。
2、他是严肃版“哈利·波特
3、主席先生,您在我们国家是我们最尊敬的客人。”他建议胡锦涛主席抽出时间来,“看看我们美丽的地方,看看我们好看的风景”。随后,他才用英文继续发表演讲。--他在现任总理霍华德欢迎胡锦涛的晚宴上对胡的讲话
4、他非常喜欢北京、北京的历史、北京的文化
[10 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-24 23:23|

Pasting some of Rudd's details:
1. He chose his Chinese name 陆克文 himself while still in university, and he once studied in Taiwan, China. He doesn't just know what “Three Represents” and “scientific outlook on development” are, and he doesn't even just know what Confucius’ Doctrine of the Mean and Lao Tzu's ‘govern by doing nothing’ and other ancient Chinese philosophical tenets are about, but has his own understanding of them.
2. He's the serious version of Harry Potter.
3. “‘Mr. Chairman, when you are in our country you are our most respected guest.’ He suggested Chairman Hu Jintao find time ‘to see our beautiful land, our great scenery.’ And then, he used English to finish the rest of his speech.” ——from a conversation he had with Hu Jintao during a welcome banquet held by current Prime Minister John Howard.
4. He loves Beijing, its history and its culture.

希望是个亲华派。。。。
[11 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-25 00:09|

I hope he's a Sinophile….

这家伙有先见之明,知道以后汉语比英语有用,
[12 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-25 00:09|

This guy's got some good foresight, he knew back then that Chinese would become more useful than English.

希望中国把澳洲变成中国一个省
[16 楼] 发表时间:2007-11-25 00:50|

I hope China turns Australia into one its provinces

QUOTE:
引用第8楼复杂的玩具于2007-11-24 23:06发表的“”:
长相也有中国人的轮廓

+1

长的很中国人………
[23 楼] | 发表时间: 2007-11-25 11:59

He's kind of shaped like a Chinese
+1
He looks just like a Chinese……….

…………工党偏左啊……………好像对我们不利吧
[25 楼] | 发表时间: 2007-11-25 14:16

……the Labour Party leans left……….I don't think that's gonna be good for us

发个这段采访在youtube上面的连接(不过感觉中国的主持人很吊的样子,比较装…… )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN42pk7eozk
[26 楼] | 发表时间: 2007-11-25 15:33

Check out this Youtube link (although I feel the Chinese announcer looks stupid, pretty pretentious……):

[Seen here is the Rui Chenggang with the exclusive interview mentioned earlier in this post]

Speaking of YouTube, of course the earwax-eating incident could not go unforgotten, brought to us by MSN Live Spaces blogger tuRtles SKY in “VOTE FOR THE NERD..KEVIN RUDD”:

我還未成年不能投票..请大家支持 KEVIN RUDD!
选举怎么这么快就到了……不知道你当选以后的庆祝活动会不会又去看脱衣舞呢~
陆克文老兄这个习惯真是有够恶心的!!!!

I'm a minor I can't vote…but everyone should support KEVIN RUDD!
How did the election come so quickly….and if you get elected will your celebration party have strippers?
Old pal Kevin Rudd's got some pretty disgusting habits!!!!

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