To bet or not Tibet?

As worldwide demonstrations grow about China's clamp down on pro-independence protests by Tibetans, world leaders are increasingly calling the super power to exercise restraint. With every Chinese action against Tibet provoking a reaction of unsurpassable disdain by a growing number of people around the world, it is a mounting notion that it would be a rather unenviable position for anyone to have to side with China at this point in time.

Step forward Mr. Kevin Rudd, our Mandarin speaking China loving Prime Minister. In an era whereby countries have to side with China in order to prosper economically, Mr. Rudd is fast approaching a hurdle that he must jump, one way or another.

Given his solid relationship with the Chinese Government it seems likely that Mr. Rudd will do little more than raise a whimper about the situation in Tibet when he visits China next month as part of his 19 day world tour.

This would be the very same tour whereby Mr. Rudd completely snubbed Australia's greatest Asian ally, Japan, in a blatant step towards favouring an emerging power house over a traditional ally.

Yet are all the latest events of any concern given that Australia has always recognised China's sovereignty over Tibet? Taking into account the condemnation that is rife throughout every corner of the earth; this is a situation that warrants much more than a simple raise of the Government’s eyelid.

After all, the actions of late by China surely go beyond the issue of sovereignty as it comes down to basic human rights, a topic that China is well versed in but never a disciple of. Even with the Olympic Games in Beijing just five months away, vintage China is flexing its muscle at what has to be the worst opportune moment. Do not be surprised if athletes begin to pull out because of the lack of air quality and more importantly, the deaths of at least 80 Tibetans.

As a former diplomat to China, Mr. Rudd must now make a decision that goes beyond the faint echo that "China must exercise restraint", a common catch phrase mimicked around the world by political leaders. But Mr. Rudd has demonstrated to the world that he has what it takes to go beyond the expectations of the common man, having done what governments of the past could not do by apologising to the Indigenous people.

This current unrest in Tibet however is undoubtedly Mr. Rudd's first true test on the political stage and it is inevitable that he must step up. In Rudd and human rights the Australian people trust. As such, the question that begs is whether Mr. Rudd is willing to gamble on his economic alliance with China by taking a tough stance on the gross violations occurring in Tibet or whether he will fold and take the road most travelled.