Correspondent's Notebook
Sichuan quake response points to changing China
16 May 2008
The devastating earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province has focused the world’s attention on the latest natural disaster in Asia – and on the Chinese government’s handling of the crisis.
Our correspondent Karon Snowdon reports from China.
Three days after the earthquake rocked one of China’s most heavily populated region, a young factory worker lined up with several hundred of her colleagues to make a donation for the victims.
Their donations might have been 5 yuan or ten, about one dollar, most of these workers earn about 50 dollars a week. All of China has been touched by this catastrophe. With the death toll at almost 20,000 and expected to reach maybe 50,000, with as many as 10 million directly affected, it’s the biggest natural disaster in around 30 years. Then, in 1976, the Tangsan quake of the same magnitude killed a quarter of a million.
There are other differences too. In the ‘70’s the Chinese Communist Party tried to keep the disaster quiet, and gave no information for about three days. Then the rescue and relief efforts were inadequate. This time the government’s response was rapid and quite effective. Tens of thousands of troops and military police were scrambled to the area, supplies were rushed through, destroyed communication systems repaired, foreign aid welcomed.
Importantly, Premier Wen Jiabao flew to the worst hit region within hours of the quake and he remained to personally supervise the rescue operation.
China has changed. The government is doing what it knows the people expect of it – to look after them, using the not inconsiderable resources the state now has at its disposal. There’s been little criticism. Most people I’ve spoken to say the job is difficult, the government is doing all it can – like the young factory worker says – little can be done against the force of nature.
The Sichuan province is extremely active seismically and very mountainous. This is where the damage is greatest, the houses the poorest and rescue operations most difficult. The first troops reached one of the worst affected areas after two days of walking.
Another difference from 1976 is China’s media freedom – reporting the disaster has been extensive. At first hard facts were difficult to come by, because most communications were initially cut. The public has been kept well informed, especially those with access to the foreign media its faced few restrictions.
The Chinese state run television service CCTV, however, has been less consistent. Its early reports carried important news but as time passed and the extent of the disaster became clearer so did the messages reinforcing the capability of the government and the need for calm. In some ways China hasn’t changed.
It is clear however that the death toll would have been higher had not real changes been made in building codes. Sichuan has some of the most densely populated areas in the most rapidly urbanising region in human history. They’ve been saved from even worse destruction by improvements in China’s governance. It’s some consolation as China struggles with the consequences of the force of nature.
