Typhoon relief: China misses an opportunity

For three days, as foreign countries rushed aid to the typhoon-stricken Philippines, China, the giant that had recently pledged to play a bigger role in the region, remained on the sidelines.

The humanitarian aid it announced on Monday was also paltry, compared with help from other countries, including those with economies smaller than Beijing's.

China, the world's second-largest economy, offered US$100,000 (S$125,000) each from the government and its Red Cross society. In contrast, the United States and Japan, the largest and third-largest economies, pledged US$20 million and US$10 million respectively.

Said Singapore-based analyst Euan Graham: "Compared to the US$300 million appeal launched by the United Nations and pledges of individual donors, China's aid is barely a drop in the ocean."

It was only on Wednesday that it pledged 10 million yuan (S$2.05 million) worth of relief supplies, and President Xi Jinping extended condolences to Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday.

China's first response also compares poorly with how it handled its past foreign disaster-relief efforts. It sprang into action a day after the Asian tsunami hit on Dec 26, 2004, and offered over 20 million yuan worth of aid.

But Chinese analysts cite mitigating reasons for China's slower response this time, such as having to cope with the typhoon, which swept through southern Chinese provinces Guangxi and Hainan.

However, Vietnam, which also suffered from the disaster, pledged the same US$100,000 aid as the Chinese government did, even though its US$142 billion economy is 58 times smaller.

Others say Beijing's decision-making process was slowed down as its top leaders and officials were busy at a key meeting of the Communist Party that began last Saturday, a day after the typhoon struck the Philippines and has killed more than 2,500 people.

But it is unimaginable that China doesn't already have in place an action plan in the event of a natural disaster hitting a feuding neighbour.

In the current 24/7 news cycle, Beijing's response looked conspicuously slow.

The likeliest reason for China's belated response should be bilateral tensions with the Philippines arising from their maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Beijing either had to ensure its aid offer would be accepted by Manila so that it wouldn't prove diplomatically embarrassing, or had skipped the chance to be among the first responders as it weighed the pros and cons of engaging the Philippines, which had peeved China by taking their disputes to an international court.

But Taiwan, which is not exactly on friendly terms with the Philippines either, after the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard on May 9 in waters claimed by both sides, was able to respond faster than China and with more aid money too, to the tune of US$200,000.

In a nutshell, China has come out looking bad, and missed a chance to improve its image in the region, which has been battered by its assertive handling of the South China Sea disputes with Manila and other ASEAN capitals.

Agreeing, Shanghai-based foreign policy analyst Yang Cheng said: "I feel that China's response so far has been appropriate though if our aid was quicker and bigger, it would help in improving our image in the region."

China's initial response was particularly damaging, given the recent promises by President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang to improve cooperation with South-east Asian countries when they toured the region last month. Areas they cited ranged from finance and defence to non-traditional security challenges like disaster relief.

The typhoon was the first real test of China's promises. But it failed to deliver and let other countries, especially the US, grab the limelight.

"At a time when American power and purpose in Asia are being questioned, it will also be noticed as a reminder that the forward-deployed American military is still the first and fastest responder to contingencies of any kind," wrote Mr Rory Medcalf of the Lowy Institute in Australia this week.

Clearly, China, which harbours aspirations to be a superpower like the US or at least a friendly, helpful giant in its own backyard, has to do better. It has to prove that it is able to rise above bilateral disputes when the occasion calls for it, and nothing is more worthy than a human tragedy.

Said Singapore-based analyst Termsak Chalermpalanupap: "This is a horrible human tragedy in central Philippines (and) many Chinese people can certainly feel sorry for the Philippine victims and empathise with the Philippine people as a whole. We should separate people-to-people ties from inter-state politics."

Some may believe what matters most is not China's initial response, but the eventual aid it offers. But first impressions do last, especially when a country is facing a crisis and in need of help urgently.

Also, taking the initiative to show goodwill towards the Philippines may produce unexpected results. After all, Beijing's tough stance against the Philippines is a factor behind its damaged ties with Manila and the region's heightened fears of China's assertiveness. The Chinese leadership should explore and employ a variety of tactics.

Even the Global Times, a tabloid known for its nationalistic tone, said China should do more. "China's international image is of vital importance to its interests. If it snubs Manila this time, China will suffer great losses," it wrote in an editorial this week.

Thankfully for China, it can still salvage the situation. For instance, Dr Termsak of the ASEAN Studies Centre said Beijing is in a good position to give longer-term assistance in the reconstruction of transport infrastructure.

This time, China should act faster.

kianbeng@sph.com.sg

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