Credit should be given where it is due. I applaud CNN for this mature look into China’s reactions towards the Japanese earthquake. There are some media focusing on the most idiotic responses coming out of China. People should know there are some incredibly ugly stuff elsewhere. See here and here. In fact, one of these two got turned into video and was a top viewed Youtube video in Japan.
I hesitated playing this CNN video initially thinking it would focus on the idiotic responses, but I have to say, for once, I was pleasantly surprised.
TonyP4 says
That’s the best opportunity to turn enemy into friend. The deep bow after a donation is better than a thousand words can describe.
I read the initial numbers of aids from foreign countries. I feel China is doing too little and too late as one of the largest trade partners and its closeness. Actually I do not see to my dog sniffing which should be available far earlier from any foreign country.
Allen says
I think people need to be sensitive when lives and livelihoods on such scale are at risk. The links yinyang provided include comments from Rush and Whaling activists. Personally I think it’s perfectly fine for Rush to make fun of what conservatives see as new age kumbaya environmental ideology and for Whaling activists to try to shame Japan into not whaling. Sometimes insensitivity is just insensitivity, sometimes it is a symptom of underlying mean or racist attitudes. But insensitivity at the time of great human tragedy can reach the inhumane and to the point of ugly. I think we should give the benefit of doubt to people who are insensitive as just people who are insensitive. On the other hand, I think people who are insensitive ought to take great effort to be more sensitive, to ensure their action do not hurt more than they need to in this time of crisis and grief.
hariascalgary says
Good gesture. China and Japan can be more than the bitter memories of difficult times between the two nations. I applaud the attitude of the new generations of Chinese. Thumbs down to those who insist in reigniting old feelings against each other.
pug_ster says
You know, I recall that about 3 years ago when we have the Sichuan earthquake, I wonder how much US aid to Japan compared to China.
Allen says
I saw this video reported on CNN earlier today. Thought it had some nice touch.
ThankYouForPraying from Goomichi on Vimeo.
TonyP4 says
@pug_ster
If I remember correctly, China turned down aids from US while the ships were close by. US could have the heavy helicopters that China did not have to life the heavy equipments. It could be due to military issues. It should not be a face issue as last time China turned off aids from all foreign countries. It seems China is harder to accepting aids than giving aids. The common folks do not care about ‘face’, but would benefit a lot from disasters.
I do not know how much aids from Japan, but Japan has been donating a lot to many countries.
Our world should have no borders when natural disasters arrive.
TonyP4 says
Sorry so many errors as I use to put down my thought first and then correct the writing. Editor, I thought the Edit function is in.
Charles Liu says
What China did in declining aid isn’t unusual. US also declined aid after Katrina.
TonyP4 says
@Charles Liu
Charles, you’re right. However, the situation is different. US did not know how to help her own citizens to start with and the aids were just too far away and not much from countries like Mexico. In China’s case, it is different in 1. the US vessels were close by. 2. China did not (still does not) have the heavy duty helicopters that can lift heavy equipments to build roads…
Charles Liu says
@Tony, proximity was not the issue. A German aid plane was refused landing by US, I assume on sovereignty and national security reason.
As to heavy lift, check out this picture:
http://www.flixya.com/photo/341065/China-prepares-to-drain-swelling-quake-lake-
Bob says
Actually China did seek some specific help from the US government after the Sichuan earthquake but it was refused.
According to WaPo’s John Pomfret, China has two dozen Blackhawks that were bought in the mid-1980s from US. These helicopters are not operational because parts supply have been suspended since the 1989 TAM crackdown. After the earthquake, China sought to buy spare parts, arguing that it needed the helicopters to save the injured, but the US government rejected China’s request on grounds that Blackhawks have limited carrying capacity.
The official, total aid to China from US government is $500K, if I recall correctly.
YinYang says
The whole point behind some regional body that can coordinate efforts from different countries is to ensure all available resources are utilized in a proper way. Crisis of that magnitude is chaotic to begin with.
I think media likes to demonize China or any other country for ‘refusing’ to accept aid because such stupid narratives sell paper. I suggest not falling for it.
Allen says
@TonyP4 #7,
About the edit function, sorry, we’ve been napping. We’ve just enabled it. Let us know what you think.