ST reported today (1 Dec, "Australia backs security pact with US, India", page A28) that Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd had, in the course of an interview, embraced the idea of a new trilateral pact that roped India into the US-Australian security tent. From "little things, big things grow," he reportedly said. "The response from the Indian government has really been quite positive," he added.
Talk about waving a red flag in front of a bull! Or should it be a red flag in front of a red bull? Or red dragon? Whatever.
So, what was the Chinese reaction? The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman did not directly respond, saying only that "China hopes that countries in the region will do more to promote regional peace, stability and development".
But the People's Liberation Army's Major-General Luo Yuan pointed to Washington, saying that the US was clearly trying to fence in China. Methinks the general would have scored public relations points -- and chuckles -- by breaking out into song, using the classic Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters tune, "Don't Fence Me In":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMnLoOnrwbg
Fence-sitting note: The Indian Foreign Ministry, when asked, said it was unaware that such a scheme had been hatched. I am sure its spokesman must be saying to himself, "It must have been yet another Rudd-erless idea!"
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I've been meaning to pay tribute to songwriter Lee Pockriss, who died last month (November) aged 87. He wrote the lyrics of the delightful Brian Hyland 1960 song "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICkWjdQuK7Q
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Finally, it's December, and the countdown to Christmas Day has begun! I like this classy headline in the Life! section of today's ST:
Clearly, it was inspired by the Yuletide song "Oh Christmas Tree":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_3ngTHs6gA
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My wife and I are going off on a pre-Christmas holiday break to Sydney, Australia (Liane and Chee Khoon are there). We'll be back mid-month.
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