Of the announcements expected from the upcoming Chinese Party Congress, a loosening of the dire restrictions on religion is not likely to be one of them

Politicians love putting their stamp on whatever era they or their spinners perceive to be dawning. Unless our PM genuinely wants a world marching to China's martial tune,  let us pray her Asian Century is but empty words and posturing

Now I’m no great Rudd fan, but as someone who from time to time had to give speeches in Mandarin I’m frankly inclined to cut the guy some slack.

We are still deciding on an appropriate Mandarin name for Tony Abbott. I am trying to promote the more affectionate moniker, “Ao Bao”, which could mean: “Australian Protector”. I like it because it imparts both the sense of being strong on border protection but also hints at his fondness for budgie smugglers.  

Does diplomacy now require that an Australian Prime Minister cannot state the problems [of China] clearly and publicly talk about them honestly even at his own university in the capital of his own country at the opening of a centre devoted to the study of China?