China's meager aid to the Philippines could dent its image

Reuters ^ | 11/12/2013 | Megha Rajagopalan

[TexGrill]

(Reuters) - China may have wasted the chance to build goodwill in Southeast Asia with its relatively paltry donation to the Philippines in the wake of a devastating typhoon, especially with the United States sending an aircraft carrier and Japan ramping up aid.

The world's second-largest economy is a growing investor in Southeast Asia, where it is vying with the United States and Japan for influence. But China's assertiveness in pressing its claim to the disputed South China Sea has strained ties with several regional countries, most notably the Philippines.

China's government has promised $100,000 in aid to Manila, along with another $100,000 through the Chinese Red Cross - far less than pledged by other economic heavyweights.

Japan has offered $10 million in aid and is sending in an emergency relief team, for instance, while Australia has donated $9.6 million.

"The Chinese leadership has missed an opportunity to show its magnanimity," said Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong Kong who focuses on China's ties with Southeast Asia.

"While still offering aid to the typhoon victims, it certainly reflects the unsatisfactory state of relations (with Manila)."

China's ties with the Philippines are already fragile as a decades-old territorial squabble over the South China Sea enters a more contentious chapter, with claimant nations spreading deeper into disputed waters in search of energy supplies, while building up their navies.

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[darkwing104]

Might the Chinese economy be like a Paper Tiger?

[Cringing Negativism Network]

China is operating its generosity, based on their old finances.

China is in the big leagues financially now.

Quit being cheapskates.

[sarasmom]

Very probably.

And ignoring the absolute hatred the various populations of the Asian nations have for each other is foolish.

Tribalism at it's absolute zenith!