PM Rudd announces push for Asia Pacific Community

PM's Rudd's huge announcement at last night's Asia Society dinner of a push for a new Asia Pacific Community (transcript here and video here and here) was met with restrained applause by the audience from the top end of town. I almost fell out of my seat as the lovely Year 7 violinist, Kako Miura, who played at the end received longer and louder applause than the PM.

The coverage of the announcement has been mixed, with some lame opposition from the Liberals along the lines that Rudd has ruined bilateral relations with several countries and so should focus on that first before embarking on anything new. Opposition Spokesperson Andrew Robb chipped in with some lame whines along these lines. Former FM Downer should have his own TV show called 'Cranky Old Men Who Realise Too Late They Did Bugger All When They Had The Chance.'

One thing that doesn't make sense to me is the inclusion of the US in the Asia Pacific Community. The US is important but Australia has to realise that not every alliance/mechanism/treaty/organisation that we form has to include the US. Does the EU or African Union include the US? Does this mean that the APC replaces APEC? Or will Mexico, Chile etc eventually join an enlarged APC? Maybe Rudd and Woolcott will use this is to show the US we still see their value. Then after consulting regional leaders and subsequently dropping US involvement, they will cite a regional preference to keep membership regional.

Here is some of the coverage of the announcement:

Australia
The Interpreter: Kevin Rudd's big idea
The Interpreter: Rudd's grand design
The Interpreter: A quick way to kill off the East Asia Summit?
ABC: Rudd keen for Asia-Pacific alliance
The Age: Rudd pushes for Asia Pacific Community
The Australian: Old warhorse Richard Woolcott back in harness to smooth regional ties
ABC: Rudd's Asia-Pacific bid a stunt: Downer
The Australian: Kevin Rudd to drive Asian union
Ninemsn: Rudd pan-Asian plan gets mixed response

International
Press Trust of India: Rudd proposes an 'Asia-Pacific community'
Gulf Times: Australian PM Rudd moots Europe-style Asia-Pacific union
Xinhua: Australian PM wants to see Asia Pacific Community in 2020