Chinese whispers

I wonder what wriggly form of words Tony Blair will use during the visit of the Chinese premier Hu Jintao? After all the real stuff about trading opportunities, I wonder if there will be time for Our Great Leader to mention China's appalling record on human rights?

I fear not. And I fear the wriggly words will be uttered to us, the grateful British public, rather than placed before our guest, who needs to hear how sickened the world still is by the treatment of Tibet, the massacre of Tiananmen Square and much much more.

But I'm sure there'll be lots of guff about support for the Return To The War On Terror Part II: The Quickening. Yes, at the end of the visit, the soppy stuff about being able to vote and speak your mind will be discarded. Instead, two "strong" men will declare their opposition to terrorists.

Of course, the Chinese view of terrorists might be somewhat different to our own...