Comrade Ambassador: Whitlam's Beijing Envoy

by Stephen Fitzgerald

Modern Australia was in part defined by its early embrace of China - a turning from the White Australia Policy of the 1950s to the country’s acceptance of Asian immigration and engagement with regional neighbours. It saw the far-sighted establishment of an embassy in Beijing in the 1970s by Gough Whitlam, headed by Stephen FitzGerald. Here, FitzGerald’s story as diplomat, China scholar, adviser to Gough Whitlam, first ambassador to China under prime ministers Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, is interwoven with the wider one of this dramatic moment in Australia’s history. Comrade Ambassador also highlights the challenge Australia faces in managing itself into an Asian future.

Genres: China, Nonfiction

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2015

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finished: 14.11.2020
Genre: non-ficton
Rating: F
#AusReadingMonth2020 #NonficNov
Bingo card: TAS
Conclusion:

One of my shortest reviews...
"informative, but textbook dull."

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who lived through the 60s and 70s, who experienced the dramatic social and cultural changes in Australia during that time, this book evokes tremendous nostalgia, both pleasant and unpleasant memories of life during the political ferment of those times. FitzGerald takes the reader through the litany of subsequent failures of vision, missed opportunities, and retrograde steps in "Asia policy" from the mid-90s until today. What towering figures were Whitlam and Fraser compared to the minnows and poll-watchers on both sides of politics today. FitzGerald presents a well reasoned plea for Australian politicians to put us back on the path of an independent foreign policy, rather than one that has us perceived, in Asia, as a "satrap" of the U.S.; a role that negates the work of previous decades, reduces the effectiveness of a our voice in Asia, reduces the respect we once commanded in international forums, indeed, positions us "outsiders" in Asia. FitzGerald warns us, that in aligning with the U.S. with its now manifestly anti-China stance, Australia risks being dragged into yet another conflict in Asia. FitzGerald also provides an insider's view into the pernicious attempts by senior public servants in the Department of Foreign Affairs (with leanings towards the Soviet Union) to sabotage policy initiatives for engagement with China, under both the Whitlam and Fraser governments. As well as vivid depictions of Whitlam and Fraser in action (in private and in public), there are superb vignettes revealing the characters and idiosyncracies of key players in Chinese politics of the turbulent late Cultural Revolution and Gang of Four period. The historical sweep of the work is great, but the detail and scholarship are there too; detail that could only have been gleaned by an insider and intimate of the key players in Australia's history during those exciting , transformative decades, that have, sadly, led to the anti-climax of Australian foreign policy today.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a China history buff, I have taken an interest in the pre WW2 history of China. This book gives such a graphic update on china from 1971 until present day. It is also a lesson on Social changes in Australia over that period. S.F has been a great Ambassador for Australia not only in Diplomatic terms but in introducing Business, Scholars and Politicians to the possibilities of relationships with China. Thoroughly enjoyed the book well researched and written by a great mind. Australia owes Stephen FitzGerald so much.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comrade Ambassador is a funny and serious account of the professional life of Stephen Fitzgerald from diplomatic, academic, to his role as the first ambassador to the People's Republic of China. By reading this book, I learnt a lot about the political and educational life of the Australian People during 60's and 70's. Also, by reading Comrade Ambassador, I gained knowledge about the political and economic changes in the People's Republic of China during this period. I enjoy the way Stephen Fitzgerald incorporated throughout the book his professional life with his personal life. I recommend this book.