What’s with China?

China wants to be part of the modern world and treated as an equal – even as a Super Power. China is the producer of a significant volume of the Worlds consumer goods. China has significant wealth.

But China is still a communist country driven by communist ideology.  That there are many millions of generous, compassionate Chinese citizens, I have no doubt. I do have doubts, however, that many of these generous, compassionate citizens are in positions of power, in China.

I raise this point because, unless I am very ill informed, Chinese aid to the cyclone stricken Philippines is conspicuous by its absence. Where is the “World Citizen China”? Where is the help from generous, compassionate China that is so needed?

I seem to recall that when China suffered the effects of a massive earth-quake some years ago they asked for some “outside” help that was gladly given. This may have been a diplomatic “tool” to advance the cause of the Beijing Olympic Games but the help was given all the same.

Now maximum help is withheld from a country, admittedly at odds with China over a few uninhabited rocks in the middle of the China Sea. This is NOT what World Citizens do. All China is doing is giving a few million dollars in aid and sending a hospital ship - very welcome – but only announced 10 days after the disaster struck.

I do not believe this lack of action by China is doing them any favours in the eyes of the  South East Asian countries – and I do not think it is good enough. Not for a supposed world power.