China teaches Australia a lesson in realpolitik

From Andrew Bolt:   Paul Kelly is right: THE signs are that Australia is about to be taught another lesson in realpolitik; that it has little political leverage over China once Beijing’s cumbersome power structure decides on an assertion of its authority…   The idea that China’s leadership will buckle and submit with a well-publicised phone call from Kevin Rudd is a touching flight from reality… Rudd’s misjudgments with China need to be kept in context; there is nothing to suggest the Rudd government is responsible for Hu’s detention. Rudd’s mistake has been to personalise the China relationship. UPDATE 3 At least one puzzle is solved: DETAINED Rio Tinto iron ore executive Stern Hu chose his unusual English first name from his love of violin virtuoso Isaac Stern, who visited China in the late 1970s. UPDATE 4 Matthew Stevens explains the tough bargains Rio drove that may explain China’s sinister use of state muscle.

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