China gives less aid to Philippines than Ikea

[Ray]

China Increases Aid to Philippines

BEIJING — China has announced that it is increasing its humanitarian assistance to typhoon victims in the Philippines, after international groups and a Chinese newspaper criticized an initial government donation of $100,000 as too meager.

The state news agency, Xinhua, said China would provide $1.4 million in relief supplies, including tents and blankets, on top of $100,000 in cash from the government and another $100,000 from the Chinese Red Cross offered earlier this week.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said Thursday that China had never intended that the amount of assistance will "never change," and had adjusted its contribution according to the needs. "An overwhelming majority of Chinese people are sympathetic with the people of the Philippines," he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/15/world/asia/chinese-aid-to-philippines.html?_r=0

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A well considered and a well orchestrated Chinese move to make political capital of a situation.

It will sure find a chord amongst the Filipino people who are, otherwise, rather unhappy with China.

 

[Ray]

China's Philippine aid controversy

China has said it is sending $1.6m (£1m) to the Philippines to help with the aid effort following Typhoon Haiyan.

Beijing had been criticised for its initial pledge of $100,000 - a fraction of that committed by other major nations.

The offering from the world's second-largest economy, which came with another $100,000 from the Chinese Red Cross, prompted cries of protest from analysts and media in the West.

The Reuters news agency called it "relatively paltry"; Time Magazine described it as "measly" and "insulting".

True, China's initial donation paled beside the $20m given by the United States or the $10m pledged by Japan - or even the $2m donated by Indonesia.

But for all the global criticism, it didn't attract much attention at home. Most Beijing residents questioned about it said they hadn't heard about it and of those that had, only one thought the amount too small.

"It doesn't matter how much the donation is," one woman said, "it's the thought that counts."

"It's not too little," another man told me, "because we'll probably help with the reconstruction as well later on."

The Chinese government hinted early on that there might be more money in the pipeline. But even its new pledge of $1.6m is dwarfed by the contributions of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and others.

And it stands in sharp contrast to China's other recent donations: over $10m for Japan in the wake of its tsunami two years ago and almost $40m for countries affected by the 2004 Asian tsunami.

'Politics and charity'
So why is China apparently more reticent about giving aid to the Philippines?

Part of it springs from the awkward politics of China's rise. Both countries are locked in a territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea, which has worsened over the past year.

State media here has recently expended a lot of energy presenting the Philippines as hostile to Beijing, so China's aid to Manila has put nationalist newspapers here in the unusual position of guiding public opinion towards sympathy for the Philippines.

On the streets of Beijing, many seemed to understand the division between aid and politics.

"Personally I don't like the Philippines," one man told me, "we don't have a good relationship with them. But it's not about our relationship with the government, we only need to help the people."

"Politics and charity are two separate things," agreed another. "When we have problems, other countries help us, so we'll help them."

Comments on social media have been much more forceful. One netizen called China's donation "disgraceful[ly]" small, but many more say they are angry that their government is giving any money to the Philippine victims at all.

China's latest pledge of $1.6m still looks pointedly small besides its previous aid packages to other nations - even to Japan, with whom it is also squabbling over territory.

The foreign ministry has dropped into press briefings the observation that China, too, was a victim of Typhoon Haiyan. But with 10 dead and an estimated $734m of damage, China's loss does not diminish the impact of its message to Manila.

BBC News - China's Philippine aid controversy

***********************************************************

 

[Ray]

Typhoon Haiyan: China gives less aid to Philippines than Ikea

World's second largest economy pledges less than $2m to help relief effort, compared to furniture store's $2.7m

The Swedish furniture chain Ikea is giving more financial aid to the Philippines than China following the category 5 typhoon that hit the country last week.

The world's second-largest economy has pledged less than $2m in cash and materials, compared to $20m provided by the United States, which also launched a massive military-driven rescue operation that includes an aircraft carrier.

Another Chinese rival, Japan, has pledged $10m and offered to send troops, ships and planes. Australia is giving $28m, and even Ikea's offer of $2.7m through its charitable foundation beats that of China.

China's reluctance to give more, driven by a row with Manila over overlapping claims in the South China Sea, dents its global image at a time when it is vying with Washington for regional influence.

"China has missed an excellent opportunity to show itself as a responsible power and to generate goodwill," said Zheng Yongnian, a China politics expert at the National University of Singapore. "They still lack strategic thinking."

The decline of American influence in Asia, with China filling the vacuum, has been predicted for years. Asian nations have become increasingly dependent on China's booming economy to purchase their exports, and Chinese companies are increasingly providers of investment and employment.

Yet China lags far behind the US in soft power, the winning of hearts and minds through culture, education and other non-traditional forms of diplomacy, of which emergency assistance is a major component.

Despite Chinese academics' frequent promotion of soft power, Chinese leaders don't really get it, said Zheng. Instead, they continue to rely on the levers of old-fashioned major-nation diplomacy based on economic and military might. "They still think they can get their way through coercion," Zheng said.

China's donations to Philippines include $100,000 each from the government and the Chinese Red Cross, and it is sending an additional $1.64m worth of tents, blankets and other goods.

Though Beijing's territorial claims overlap with Vietnam and others, it has singled out the Philippines, apparently because of Manila's energetic assertions of its own claims. Beijing was enraged by Manila's decision to send the dispute to international arbitration and constantly rails against its close military alliance with the US.

China's generosity with the Philippines hasn't entirely dried up. It pledged $80,000 to the Philippines last month following a major earthquake there, in addition to this week's pledges. And the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, expressed his sympathy to his Philippine counterpart, Benigno Aquino, in the latest disaster, although a five full days later and without mentioning assistance.

Zhu Feng, an international relations expert at Peking University, said the amount donated "reflects the political deadlock, if not outright hostility, between the two countries. The political atmosphere is the biggest influence."

An additional factor could be that China is a relative newcomer to overseas disaster relief. The country sent tents and a medical mission to the hardest-hit Aceh province in Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and government and public donations were in the millions of dollars.

Since then, China's participation has been mainly limited to assisting its close ally Pakistan with flood and earthquake relief and some help to foreign nationals fleeing Libya during an unprecedented mission to evacuate 30,000 of its citizens from the war-torn nation.

Typhoon Haiyan: China gives less aid to Philippines than Ikea | World news | theguardian.com

 

[Impluseblade]

How much has India donated to Philippines? More than Ikea?

Typhoon Haiyan: China gives less aid to Philippines than Ikea

World's second largest economy pledges less than $2m to help relief effort, compared to furniture store's $2.7m

The Swedish furniture chain Ikea is giving more financial aid to the Philippines than China following the category 5 typhoon that hit the country last week.

The world's second-largest economy has pledged less than $2m in cash and materials, compared to $20m provided by the United States, which also launched a massive military-driven rescue operation that includes an aircraft carrier.

Another Chinese rival, Japan, has pledged $10m and offered to send troops, ships and planes. Australia is giving $28m, and even Ikea's offer of $2.7m through its charitable foundation beats that of China.

China's reluctance to give more, driven by a row with Manila over overlapping claims in the South China Sea, dents its global image at a time when it is vying with Washington for regional influence.

"China has missed an excellent opportunity to show itself as a responsible power and to generate goodwill," said Zheng Yongnian, a China politics expert at the National University of Singapore. "They still lack strategic thinking."

The decline of American influence in Asia, with China filling the vacuum, has been predicted for years. Asian nations have become increasingly dependent on China's booming economy to purchase their exports, and Chinese companies are increasingly providers of investment and employment.

Yet China lags far behind the US in soft power, the winning of hearts and minds through culture, education and other non-traditional forms of diplomacy, of which emergency assistance is a major component.

Despite Chinese academics' frequent promotion of soft power, Chinese leaders don't really get it, said Zheng. Instead, they continue to rely on the levers of old-fashioned major-nation diplomacy based on economic and military might. "They still think they can get their way through coercion," Zheng said.

China's donations to Philippines include $100,000 each from the government and the Chinese Red Cross, and it is sending an additional $1.64m worth of tents, blankets and other goods.

Though Beijing's territorial claims overlap with Vietnam and others, it has singled out the Philippines, apparently because of Manila's energetic assertions of its own claims. Beijing was enraged by Manila's decision to send the dispute to international arbitration and constantly rails against its close military alliance with the US.

China's generosity with the Philippines hasn't entirely dried up. It pledged $80,000 to the Philippines last month following a major earthquake there, in addition to this week's pledges. And the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, expressed his sympathy to his Philippine counterpart, Benigno Aquino, in the latest disaster, although a five full days later and without mentioning assistance.

Zhu Feng, an international relations expert at Peking University, said the amount donated "reflects the political deadlock, if not outright hostility, between the two countries. The political atmosphere is the biggest influence."

An additional factor could be that China is a relative newcomer to overseas disaster relief. The country sent tents and a medical mission to the hardest-hit Aceh province in Indonesia after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and government and public donations were in the millions of dollars.

Since then, China's participation has been mainly limited to assisting its close ally Pakistan with flood and earthquake relief and some help to foreign nationals fleeing Libya during an unprecedented mission to evacuate 30,000 of its citizens from the war-torn nation.

Typhoon Haiyan: China gives less aid to Philippines than Ikea | World news | theguardian.com

 

[Ray]

How does that concern you what India gave?

This is about China.

And the news report is from the West.

You are the fastest growing economy and the second largest in the world.

So, why don't you compare with what Burkina Faso gave.

There is already a thread on Indian aid to Philippines.

It is not that we don't speak of ourselves.

Got that?

 

[no smoking]

How does that concern you what India gave?

This is about China.

And the news report is from the West.

You are the fastest growing economy and the second largest in the world.

So, why don't you compare with what Burkina Faso gave.

There is already a thread on Indian aid to Philippines.

It is not that we don't speak of ourselves.

Got that?

Since you are puting this as kind of contest, it is certainly right to include India in the question, got that?

 

[drkrn]

Since you are puting this as kind of contest, it is certainly right to include India in the question, got that?

fortunately,helping in our culture is no contest.
thank you.

we did what we can without any public addressing.already medical supplies from india reached their country in mil planes

 

[Ray]

Since you are puting this as kind of contest, it is certainly right to include India in the question, got that?

Where is the contest?

The US is the leading economy and China follows. The others are not near them. So, where is the contest.

Isn't it obvious the richer countries contribute more?

What is new about that?

Yes, India and every other country must help all in distress and there is no doubt about that.

And each to his means.

Right?

Why do you Chinese here look at everything as a contest?

Look at the comments of the normal Chinese people in the article.

"China has missed an excellent opportunity to show itself as a responsible power and to generate goodwill," said Zheng Yongnian, a China politics expert at the National University of Singapore. "They still lack strategic thinking."

"Personally I don't like the Philippines," one man told me, "we don't have a good relationship with them. But it's not about our relationship with the government, we only need to help the people."

"Politics and charity are two separate things," agreed another. "When we have problems, other countries help us, so we'll help them."

Comments on social media have been much more forceful. One netizen called China's donation "disgraceful[ly]" small, but many more say they are angry that their government is giving any money to the Philippine victims at all.

Very pragmatic comments.

Do you mean to say that the Chinese quoted in the newspaper are any less Chinese than you all here? Or that they are not as proud of their country as you all Chinese out here?

So, where is the contest and where is in any way looked upon adversely?

 

[shiphone]

funny ...here some idiots are always advocating and crying of inspiration for the so called filipine anti-China brave words and action....on the other hand the same idiots began to blame China not providing the so called 'Enough' aid now....LOL...so childish and brainwashed by tricky western media ...
the simple facts are :

1.China also the suffered the lives and property loss in this Typhoon 'HaiYan' attact..
2.China proived the 200,000 dollors cash and 1.6 million dollors worth relief material...

-------------------------------------
in this century, China's Disaster aid to other South Asia and SouthEast Asia developing county actually has some standard scale: normally 1-1.5 million dollors cash plus 5+ millions relief material...

IN
2011.... to Thailand in flood: 1.5 million dollors + 6.7 millions relief material
2011... to Cambodia in the same flood: 1.5 million dollors + 8 millions relief material
2004,2009,2010 and 2013 ...after the Pakistan earthquake . the aid were 1 millions dollars cash + 5 millions material
2004... to Indian Ocean Tsunami affected nations: 100 millon dollors aid in total...
2008... to Myanmar after the cyclone; 3 aids in total, worth 1 millon ,10 million and 4 million.....
....
such scale of 0.2 million + 1.6 million dollors aid is quite reasonable and suitable in this ' Typhoon disaster 'case to such so called ' hostile' nation...frankly ,that's enough already.

hypocrisy is the costly privilege and master game of some developped Western country..as a developing country with billions to feed ,china can't and won't afford it ... some idiots from the another third world country would like to play the double standard following the the western media. ignoring so many so called 'sanction' to some ' hostile' nations initiated by these hypocritical nation in this world...what a loser ...

such smear campaign against China by the western Discourse power has a very long history and well planned and funded. some idiot and loser were enjoying it and igoring their home nation was also the victim and target...how pathetic it is.

 

[Ray]

The idiots are those who claim to be leaders of the world, embracing all with love and compassion and Peacefully Rising and then turn out to be the biggest wimps and scroungers.

in this century, China's Disaster aid to other South Asia and SouthEast Asia developing county actually has some standard scale:

That is unique!

While it is accepted that in China everything is standardised including thinking, can you explain how China 'standardises' all natural calamities and disaster to be same?

Further, no one is blaming China. It is China's prerogative to give what it wants or not give at all.

The media is merely commenting on the scrounging and miserliness and even the Chinese bloggers are stating the same.

Since China is the second largest economy of the world, and China continuously without fail makes it a point that the world understand and how without it, the world will collapse, is expected by normal human standards to be magnanimous.

If China is the engine of the world, then the world expect that engine to also engine compassion since the economy is also dependent on exports to the world. The world too is engine to the Chinese booming economy.

Laozhi 老子, the philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching, had said -

The sage does not hoard. Having bestowed all he has on others, he has yet more; having given all he has to others, he is richer still.

 

[Zero_Wing]

Just dont donate the hell is china's problem? for you arrogant sons of b's for people i mean the donations from other countries are more than enough so keep your stupid 1.6 or 10k we don't care its just to make you people look good nothing more sincerity my @$$

 

[Ray]

@shiphone

If China does not like Philippines because of territorial issues and which has put the world on its guard preventing further Chinese adventurism, then the pique is understandable.

So, don't donate.

Don't make a mockery of magnanimity.

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.

One must remember Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike.

And what is important is that People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude.

Lastly, Resentment or grudges do no harm to the person against whom you hold these feelings but every day and every night of your life, they are eating at your innards.

 

[shiphone]

obviously we have one leader(with some dependency sharing the same values) in this world ...and it is not China ....the so called leadership Crown is a investitive fake by the western media...some famous China lover who was enjoying the Western rhetoric and watching China in the Western eyes should learn to study something via his own effort...

--------------
those suffered natural disaster should know :no outsider would be blamed but your own government and its governing capacity...and the recovery and the future depend on the hard working by your self...nothing more...

--------------
some idiot began another ' brilliant idea' about 'should or should not'...LOL...actually when some idiot began to blame others , this idiot should have a study on what his government did to those 'unfriendly ' or 'uninterested' nations in other natural disaster relief action.

blame game is the normalcy of some contury's social life...yes,yes....everything could and should be blamed...the only thing I can do is---blaming......

 

[nimo_cn]

Just dont donate the hell is china's problem? for you arrogant sons of b's for people i mean the donations from other countries are more than enough so keep your stupid 1.6 or 10k we don't care its just to make you people look good nothing more sincerity my @$$

i dont mind if you reject the offer.

Sent from my HUAWEI T8951 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Ray]

obviously we have one leader(with some dependency sharing the same values) in this world ...and it is not China ....the so called leadership Crown is a investitive fake by the western media...some famous China lover who was enjoying the Western rhetoric and watching China in the Western eyes should learn to study something via his own effort...

--------------
those suffered natural disaster should know :no outsider would be blamed but your own government and its governing capacity...and the recovery and the future depend on the hard working by your self...nothing more...

--------------
some idiot began another ' brilliant idea'...LOL...
who cares..

Indeed you have One Leader!

So was it in the book 1984.

Obviously, you are dependent on him to guide your values. You have no option to be different. Or it is the Laogai for you! Hardly a choice!

Why mock the western media? Each newspaper publishes it views and there are no 'values' they have to follow or be dependent for on One Leader! Surely, that is a better way to knowledge than the monotony the diktat to follow the 'same value' as dictated by the One Leader would herald!

If one is dependent on the 'same value' dictated by the One Leader, then it become conditioned reflex, the experiment proved by the Pavlovian Dogs. Robotic. Robots to be precise.

If a Typhoon hits a Nation, you feel the Govt should control the typhoon and God?

Is that what your One Leader decrees?

Some decree!

blame game is the normalcy of some contury's social life...yes,yes....everything could and should be blamed...the only thing I can do is---blaming......

Blame game the society's social index?

Jaundiced eye cannot perceive beyond the atrophic mind.

One tomtoms one greatness and then hunkers down to be Ebenezer Scrooge!

some idiot began another ' brilliant idea'...LOL...

Gazing at the mirror in which it shows your image?

 

[Ray]

i dont mind if you reject the offer.

Sent from my HUAWEI T8951 using Tapatalk 2

It is more important and polite to be gracious than to be churlish and crude.

Philippines would not be looked upon kindly if she rejects the goodness of people, no matter how little the amount maybe.

The thought counts!

 

[bose]

i dont mind if you reject the offer.

Sent from my HUAWEI T8951 using Tapatalk 2

On the bolded part, look this is the reason why people hate Chinese in South East Asia... Chinese are small and mean people with out of proportion ego...

Why this drama of donation when you heart does not want to give them in first instances ??? Stop this croc tears...

Look at the USA how they are commiting for a friend in need...

 

[Ray]

Disaster diplomacy at play in Haiyan aid response by China, United States

Fast and generous US aid effort is restoring its prestige in Asia, while China's sluggish, modest response is being seen as a missed opportunity

Personnel from the US navy wait for the Blackhawk helicopters transporting boxes of bottled water near the city of Tacloban in the Philippines, which has been devastated by the super typhoon that hit on Friday.

The brutal Typhoon Haiyan is having geopolitical effects in the region, with a quick and generous response from the US shoring up its influence and China's sluggish and modest aid effort making a dent in its soft power.

As the two powers continue to compete for regional influence, observers say aid diplomacy is helping Washington offset an earlier blow to its prestige in Asia caused by US President Barack Obama's no-show at two important summits. Beijing, on the other hand, is missing the opportunity to strengthen ties strained by maritime disputes.

Beijing announced its initial offer of US$100,000 on Monday, when international assistance was already pouring into the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan hit on Friday. Another US$ 100,000 would be donated through the Chinese Red Cross. This modest offer from the world's second-biggest economy immediately attracted criticism abroad. Yesterday, Xinhua reported that China would provide an additional 10 million yuan (HK$12.7 million) in relief supplies.

Even after the increase, the amount still pales in comparison to efforts made by the US and another regional rival, Japan.

China and the Philippines have been in diplomatic deadlock over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Among the countries that have such disputes with China, the Philippines has been the most assertive in refuting its claims.

While the maritime dispute is considered a key factor holding Beijing back from offering more help to Manila, consideration of domestic public opinion is also having an effect, according to Qiao Mu, the dean of the Centre for International Communications Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

"Nationalist sentiment is very strong in China and Chinese people can be very vindictive. Offering too much help to the Philippines could draw criticisms from the people. So public diplomacy is outweighed by domestic public opinion," Qiao said.

President Xi Jinping made improving regional ties a foreign policy priority after taking power last year.

However, Beijing was missing out on an opportunity to regain trust and influence in the region, said Rory Medcalf, the director of the International Security Programme at the Lowy Institute in Australia. "It's very harmful for China's own interests and its image in the region that it's not responding in a quicker and larger way," he said.

China could have reinforced its claims in the South China Sea by demonstrating that it could do good there, Medcalf said. "China is actually damaging its own claims by not responding more decisively," he said.

Video: Chaos in stricken Philippine city amid wait for aid

While more help might be on the way from Beijing, Medcalf said the first impression would last. "Disaster diplomacy sends very strong signals about which countries are influential in the region, and about co-operation and loyalty among these countries."

Zheng Yongnian, an analyst of Chinese politics at the National University of Singapore, said: "China has missed an excellent opportunity to show itself as a responsible power and to generate goodwill.

"They still lack strategic thinking," he added.

The decline of American influence in Asia, with China filling the vacuum, has been predicted for years. Asian nations have become more dependent on China to purchase their exports and Chinese companies provide investment and employment.

Yet China lags far behind the US in the sphere of soft power — the winning of hearts and minds through culture, education, and other non-traditional forms of diplomacy, of which emergency assistance is a major component.

Despite Chinese academics' frequent promotion of soft power, Chinese leaders did not really get it, Zheng said. Instead, they continued to rely on the levers of old-fashioned major-nation diplomacy based on economic and military might. "They still think they can get their way through coercion," he said.

China's generosity with the Philippines has not entirely dried up. It pledged US$80,000 to the Philippines last month following a major earthquake there, in addition to this week's pledges. And Xi expressed his sympathy to his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino over the latest disaster, although a five full days later and without mentioning assistance.

The US, on the other hand, is shoring up its influence amid doubts about its place in the region. Obama's absence from two regional summits in October was considered a setback to his policy of re-engaging with Asia in the face of a rising China.

Richard Heydarian, a political science lecturer at Ateneo De Manila University in the Philippines, said Washington's response would give a huge boost to its influence in the country.

While the Philippines have had an ambivalent attitude towards Japan, which invaded the Southeast Asian country during the second world war, the presence of Japanese troops could help score points for Tokyo, too.

"I am sure Philippine media will be talking about how helpful the American and Japanese troops are. These are big soft power points for the US and Japan," Heydarian said.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as The diplomacy of disaster

Disaster diplomacy at play in Haiyan aid response by China, United States | South China Morning Post

South China Morning Post is a Chinese newspaper.

The above is the report that indicates the situation.

 

[shiphone]

you needn't show me your poor knowledge about China. it's a joker's action...to be honest ,I don't think an fool can't read Chinese and fully quoted the Western media and some unreliable web news could delivery some useful information and knowledge to your compatriot .the more you claimed, the more ignorance displayed here ,it would be quite long post to correct every simple basic mistakes in your threads in this sub forum...I don't have time...if you wan't keep misleading your compatriot ...i'm quite ok with it....
-------------
LOL....some fool forgot the well praised high-efficiency of millions Evacuation and Shelter providing plan by the government during the Cyclone Phailin. it's just one month ago ,isn't it?

 

[Ray]

you needn't show me your poor knowledge about China. it's a joker's action...to be honest ,I don't think an fool can't read Chinese and fully quoted the Western media and some unreliable web news could delivery some useful information and knowledge to your compatriot .the more you claimed, the more ignorance displayed here...
-------------
LOL....some fool forgot the well praised high-efficiency of millions Evacuation and Shelter providing plan by the government during the Cyclone Phailin. it's just one month ago ,isn't it?

First of all. I advise you to keep a civil tongue in your head.

I have not gone personal and so I will not be inclined to be very receptive to words like 'fool' or 'joker' being flung at me without cause. Maybe, it it continues, you and your ship and phone will be shipped out.

Consider you being cautioned to use maturity while addressing others. It must be appreciated that this forum abhor guttersnipe language and activities.

Reading Chinese is not the be all and end all of the world! In fact, it would be a waste of valuable time, since it would be but regurgitation of the Thoughts and Dictates of the One Leader!

The newspaper quoted are internationally acclaimed ones and not that figment of imagination that you are peddling as 'unreliable web news' . The South China Morning Post too has been quoted.

Ignorance is being well displayed by you since you are not even aware that the links and newspapers being quoted are internationally acclaimed while you term them as 'unreliable web news!

What about Cyclone Phailin?

Start a thread on it if you wish to discuss it.