The flood rescues were partially PR, but undoubtedly they were organized by local officials who have an emotional stake in the community.
I agree that a portion of the Chinese people, and a portion of the American people, and most Europeans, have little or no regard for human life (except for the lives of their families, their friends and their own sorry behinds). In China, the national government is controlled by those who think abortion is an effective method of population control, etc. In America, our national government is leaning much more pro-life, though it's a constant battle. (Europe is a lost cause.)
But when you look at the community level, you see people who do care about life. I believe it is for this reason that thousands of people were rescued from drowning during the recent rains.
Ahhhh...did politics change in China?
The Chinese people do not elect their leaders, right? We do...there is a large difference.
I have no doubt that the Chinese community, "individuals", in general, have a high regard for human life...but they don't run the government. The government is run by a cadre of "politically enlightened" in China. There is no moral equivolance you can make between the Chinese government and the governments of Europe and the U.S.
And when taking into account potential warring "nation" states, that's what matters. To China it's not conscious or consequence, it's a numbers game when going to war.
To put it somewhat simply. If the Chinese people were truly in control of their government, a democracy, etc...I would not argue. I would be the first person to tell you China and the U.S. would not consider each other a threat. But as it stands, China's political cadre's sole function is the perpetuation of the Moaist state and Chinese Hegemony (it sees Taiwan as a threat to that)...that puts in direct conflict with U.S. interests.