Posted on 01/06/2005 8:22:32 PM PST by iddygents
China fails the tsunami test Big power ambitions, bit player when the chips are down
By Michael Moran Brave New World columnist MSNBC Updated: 2:32 p.m. ET Jan. 5, 2005
As the ships, aircraft and crews of the Australian, New Zealand, Indonesian and Indian navies rushed to the aid of a region scoured by a tsunami, joining a large American flotilla and various British, Thai, Japanese and Malaysian units, the Chinese fleet remained in port.
In fact, the only significant statement from China’s defense ministry in the days following the tsunami was a Dec. 27 announcement that China and Russia would hold major air and naval war games later this year.
Playing possum
Like many countries, China committed money to tsunami relief -- $63 million, carefully trumping the $50 million pledged by its diminutive rival, Taiwan. Beijing also sent a number of search and rescue teams to the region and has encouraged private giving. (In contrast, Japan’s $500 million was the top pledge by any country until Wednesday, when Australia's $764 and Germany's $674 leapfrogged it.
To be sure, China's $63 million donation is welcomed, as is any aid from any country. But China is not just any country, particularly not in East and Southeast Asia, where its break-neck economic growth and maturing military might cast a large and long shadow.
Some Americans, and some in the region, may think it just as well that China remains a one-dimensional player on the world scene, a kind of gigantic idiot savant with a monster economy but no desire to engage in any foreign affairs issue that won’t be a direct benefit to it. That is an understandable sentiment, given the potential for China to be a disruptive, authoritarian force in world.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
China has always cared about one thing: China. Most of its leaders won't even go that far.
What? A story criticcal of China by MSnbc?!?
It must of broke their hearts.
The USA is spending 50 Million daily on Military aid alone.
Life is cheap on this planet.. did we talk about abortion yet.?.
China gave $63 million.
The world should say Thanks, and let it go. TO ridicule China is the same as the UN guy who said the US was SKIMPY.
We argued that mere numbers or pledges should not be the measure. That there should not be some scale the US was weighed on and found wanting. Now you say China should be hung on the same scales we would not mount?
China has more problems, as a nation, as a government, than you can imagine. The THREE GORGES DAM project has turned into a nightmare, and externally they are concerned about the US, Russia, Taiwan, Korea's, and the Middle East, just like everyone else. They have many more people to manage (control) in their country.
The average person has less comparative income and luxury than the average US citizen.
Any nation that contributes needs to be recognized, and we need hands more than we need money anyway.
For every life saved in the aftermath of the Asian Disaster, there will be 10 human babies aborted in the US.
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