Different approaches

摘要

When Kevin Rudd, Australia's Mandarin-speaking prime minister, came to power in late 2007 the country's relations with China seemed poised to improve. But the love-in has failed to happen. This week Australia's government announced that China had cancelled a visit by He Yafei, a foreign-affairs minister, earlier this month. He was to attend a summit of Pacific island leaders, at which Mr Rudd hoped to discuss his plan for a new Asia-Pacific regional body involving China.