With the United States and China locked in an ongoing battle and no solution in sight, Kevin Rudd from Queensland is here to help. His new book explains President Xi Jinping’s thinking and suggests a way forward. Are people paying attention? If they are, will they learn anything useful?

In March 2023 Kevin Rudd became Australia’s Ambassador to the US. At the time, people wondered about the appointment of a noted China expert. Could he set out Australia’s views and help prevent a war that would be a global disaster. So far, he has had little effect. Both sides of US politics are united in anti-China views. Rudd is a staunch supporter of AUKUS and warns of China’s expansionist ambitions. Although Donald Trump has called Rudd “nasty” and threatened to get rid of him if he wins election, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said he will remain. Perhaps he still has a chance to bring about change, but that seems unlikely.

Rudd’s book comprehensively sets out his pessimistic view of China. Despite his demanding Washington ambassadorial role, he has found time to polish his 2022 Oxford University doctoral thesis, adding some new analysis. On Xi Jinping: How Xi’s Marxist Nationalism is Shaping China and the World quotes extensively from speeches and essays by Chinese President Xi to demonstrate how China’s current policies and practices are linked his commitment to Marxist ideology. Xi’s body of writing has been elevated to the level of “Xi Jinping........

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