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Rudd has done nothing but try to obscure the issue, by saying that its not a racial incident because other passengers were robbed. This of course completely ignores the fact that only the Chinese were assaulted and had tampons shoved in their mouths, and that the other passenger actually incited the robbers to attack them on racial grounds).

The Chinese Government, despite all its many faults, is not afraid to call a spade a spade. I dont think you'd find them pretending that the thugs were actually equal opportunity robbers in the unlikely event that white people were targeted solely on grounds of their race in China.*

*Besides which, this would never happen. Australian friends of mine who have visited China have reported that people are overwhelming friendly to them, often inviting them to share a meal etc. In most countries friendliness to strangers is the norm, and even where xenophobia raises its ugly head, you'll find that there are reasons for it (e.g. Australians might not be welcome in the Middle East because their government is effectively invading the region. Or they might be presumed to be rich in an African country). Only in your beloved Australia, and other Western countries, will you find hordes of racists willing to bash others solely because of the colour of their skin. No prizes for guessing why (for the dimwitted, its because they collectively share the same culture that gave us slavery, apartheid and the Holocaust).

I wonder if in China, some foreigners were beaten, would an ex pm write in english on facebook or twitter that the issue will be investigated? Hmmmm.

It might sound a bit cynical but i'd imagine if there were enough interests at stake then, yes, China would make some sort of effort to lessen the effect of such an incident on those interests.

As noted in the story, China supplies a lot of foreign students who all pay large amounts in tuition fees to foreign universities. If those students/paying customers are scared off by such an incident then there are plenty of other Universities in different countries who'll take their money. It's damage limitation on the part of the Australian authorities.