Rudd comments blacked out

April 10, 2008

* Rudd Tibet comments ignored by Chinese press
* Rudd's manadarin skills widely reported
* Rudd attending state welcoming ceremony today

CHINA'S state-run press has all but ignored Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's comments about human rights problems in Tibet, while lavishing praise on his knowledge of China.

"Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd enthralled his audience at Peking University with an intimate grasp of China affairs and a thorough understanding of global politics yesterday," the China Daily wrote today.

The English-language newspaper highlighted a quote from Mr Rudd expressing his opposition to a boycott of the Olympic Games, without mentioning Tibet.

The People's Daily, the Communist Party's main mouthpiece, also reported on Mr Rudd's support for the Olympics, while the Beijing Youth Daily highlighted his humourous quips.

Most papers also reported on Mr Rudd's fluent Mandarin skills and the fact he delivered his speech in Chinese.

But none of the major newspapers mentioned his more controversial comments on Tibet.

"Australia, like most other countries, recognises China's sovereignty over Tibet but we also believe it is necessary to recognise there are significant human rights problems in Tibet," he said in his speech yesterday.

"The current situation in Tibet is of concern to Australians."

The Global Times newspaper, which belongs to the People's Daily and reports mainly on foreign affairs issues, appeared to be the only mainstream media outlet to report his Tibet comments.

China's media, which is under the strict control of the ruling Communist Party, has over recent weeks severely criticised the Western press for supposed bias in covering the past of month of Tibetan unrest.

Today Mr Rud was attending a lavish welcoming ceremony with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Violence erupted in Tibet on March 14, after four days of peaceful protests to mark the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in the Himalayan region.

Tibetan exiles leaders say more than 150 people have been killed in a Chinese crackdown on the unrest, claims China's press has ignored or sought to discredit.

Instead it has highlighted the Chinese Government's statements that Tibetan "rioters" killed 20 people.