Friday, September 9, 2011

Documents show a country under Kevin Rudd pulled in different directions by the US, China and Japan

A March 2005 cable describes talks between Chinese officials and John Carlson, director general of the Australian Safeguards and Nonproliferation Office.

Smith, anxious over the potential damage to trade agreements, backed down from a previous threat to refer Japan's continued whaling to the International Court of Justice, according to the cable.

However, a harder line was adopted by Australia following the sinking of the Ady Gil, a speedboat used by Sea Shepherd.

Two companies involved in the construction of a contentious A$35bn liquefied natural gas hub in an untouched area of Western Australia claim that the government gave them no option but to use the site.


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