China is the world’s second-largest economy, a neighbour to the Philippines, and has many nationals who live and work in the Philippines, yet their government has committed a paltry US$100,000 to relief efforts in the wake of supertyphoon Haiyan (the U.S., on the other hand, has sent millions). China also has a large navy that they could deploy and have cross the South China Sea in a day, but they have yet to send ships.
The Chinese government’s dickery is just the latest punch thrown in their ongoing sparring match with the Philippines as China claims water territory that is clearly the Philippines’ and not theirs, as defined by the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides rules for what states can claim as territorial seas (which extend 12 miles from shore) and as “exclusive economic zones” (which normally extend 200 miles). Oddly, but not surprisingly, China has ratified UNCLOS — they just don’t want to follow it when it’s inconvenient. There are other countries that have waters that China is also encroaching upon, but none have been as assertive of their rights as the Philippines.
China’s measly aid package is the equivalent of leaving a penny tip for your waiter, except that there are people’s lives at stake. Once again, politics trumps people.
Hey, Chinese government: cào nǐ zǔzōng shíbā dài. Oh, what the hell: let’s make it twenty generations.
In the meantime, if you’ve got some money to spare and want to help — and remember, even $25 US or Canadian is about 1,000 Philippines pesos and goes a long way — I recommend making donations to the Philippine Red Cross, who are on the ground and don’t waste their money on excessive administrative costs, and you can do so by PayPal here.