Over two weeks since the initial earthquake hit China, what conclusions can be made from the short-term response to disaster in China? The pre-lingering controversies related to earthquake prediction and the standard of building structures should not detract from the commendable efforts of the Chinese government and the Chinese people in light of such a large-scale tragedy.

After the furore of the Olympic torch relay and the on-going debate about Tibet, the Chinese government and its people took an unprecedented step in their response to the earthquake. Firstly, the government should be praised for its openness in media coverage of the disaster, for international and national media could have been largely blocked out. The fact that there has been a liberty in the coverage of the earthquake has given us the chance to form our own opinions about the earthquake and the government's response.

The media in China has taken an unprecedented step in China's media history, in both the speed of the coverage, and the topics covered, which have been similar to the major issues raised by the Western media, ranging from the response time of the government, to the controversy of the standard of building structures. Such critiques and appraisals that we have seen in recent weeks could not have been made without the coverage that we have seen of the disaster.

In terms of the Chinese government the overall management of disaster has been a success. Comparisons have been drawn between the Burmese government's response to their nation's cyclone and also to the American government's mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina, and these comparisons have drawn nothing but appraisal for the regime's swift response. Approaching 130,000 troops were mobilised to great effect, rescuing survivors, setting up tents and clearing roads. Such large-scale mobilisation not seen in other countries has been the factor in garnering favourable coverage, a positive of the might of China's army.

On ground level, the reactions by the Chinese people seem to be of an overall satisfaction, whilst there have been some critiques in the response time, these critiques must be viewed alongside the harshness of the difficult weather that has in turn made the damaged terrain of the rural towns difficult to negotiate. The rejection of foreign aid from certain countries, notably, the United States, however, may prove telling, depending on the problems that the Chinese government may encounter en route to recovery. The long-term needs are a huge mountain to climb; in particular, the re-housing of the victims, those who were left in only their clothes when their 3 million homes were destroyed. As well as this, Chinese engineers are facing a tough task of relieving pressure on the ‘quake lakes' that have been forged by dammed water created by the avalanche of mud and rocks, which threaten the lives of millions. Aid will be vital in such processes and whilst the Chinese people are still in a mode of survival, once the dust settles, such decisions may be retrospectively derided or praised.

What can be said is that this earthquake will change China irrevocably. The openness of the media and the government as well as the unprecedented measures taken by the Chinese government has set a potential standard. Will, for example, the Chinese government take a similar openness in its liaisons with Tibet? What we have seen, however, is the best of the Chinese government and its people in recent weeks, and it will be interesting how this watershed transfers in other aspects of politics and society in years to come. Unfortunately, the aftershocks still continue, and for now, China must continue its efforts on its road to recovery.

Leon Lau 

For more information about donating to the relief efforts supporting victims of the China earthquake please follow the links to the donation pages of the UK Chinese Embassy special earthquake account and the British Red Cross earthquake appeal.

Image courtesy of Divine Rapier: http://flickr.com/photos/facts/2494564230/