FACE VALUE: A portrait of Mr Kevin Rudd was presented to him by Mr Xu Zhihong (right), president of Beijing University, on Wednesday. At left is the artist who drew the portrait. -- PHOTO: AFP

For Mr Rudd is not only a fluent Mandarin speaker; his university degree is in Chinese history, and he spent a good chunk of his professional life serving as a diplomat in Beijing. Furthermore, Mr Rudd's election coincided with the emergence of China as Australia's top trading partner. So, both economics and politics appeared to herald a closer relationship between Canberra and Beijing, while Australia's alliance with the US was questioned.

But, as Mr Rudd ends his first official visit to China today, Beijing may conclude that, regardless of his language abilities, his policies will neither be instinctively pro-Chinese nor inherently anti-American.

Mr Rudd arrived in China only after completing a worldwide tour which began in Washington and continued to London, the capitals of Australia's historic allies.

Despite his decision to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq, Mr Rudd got on famously with US President George W. Bush. Indeed, the two leaders were far too chummy for the liking of other Australian politicians: At one stage, Mr Rudd was seen to salute Mr Bush in military fashion, a gesture which raised hackles back home.

Interestingly, Mr Rudd also became the first Australian leader to attend a Nato summit, the US-led military alliance in Europe. No formal deals were signed. Nevertheless, his presence was an indication of Australia's determination to continue playing a role in Western military organisation.

But the most startling development as far as China is concerned was Mr Rudd's willingness to criticise Beijing's policies openly. At a press conference in Washington, Mr Rudd said there were 'clearly human rights abuses' in Tibet, and called on Beijing to engage in a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese authorities privately complained to Canberra about these statements. Yet Mr Rudd was undeterred; he included the same criticism in a speech to Beijing University students on Wednesday.

The Chinese government drew some comfort from the fact that Mr Rudd still rejects calls for a boycott of the Olympic Games. But even this reassurance is not as rock-solid as it seems.

The official Australian position is that a final decision on whether Mr Rudd will attend the Olympics' opening ceremony will depend on his 'diary commitments'. This is a diplomatic way of saying that, if Australia's public opinion is strongly opposed to his attendance, Mr Rudd may yet find himself 'too busy' to be present in Beijing this August.

To be sure, the two countries had many other issues to discuss. After China recently concluded a trade agreement with New Zealand, Australia's Agriculture Minister Tony Burke now claims to be 'extremely positive' about inking a similar deal. And there is no question that diplomatic dialogue between the two countries is flourishing.

But the Chinese are clearly apprehensive about Mr Rudd, the man who knows too much, and is determined to show it.

'We hope his excellent command of Chinese will help avoid misunderstanding and misjudgments when the two countries interact,' read an editorial in the official China Daily.

This must surely rank as the week's most subtle warning.

jonathan.eyal@gmail.com