China in a Different Perspective

I was reading New York Times and this article was on the front page: "A rescue in China: uncensored" The article shares a different perspective about current and previous stereotypes of China. The government's rescuing of the earthquake definitely strikes a new and more positive image for the Party. China is receiving some praise internationally about their country. China's quick and effective action gives some rest to the outside world's concerns about holding the Olympics in Beijing this year.

These are some of the passages I found striking:

"Chinese Web sites remain heavily censored, and a brief flirtation with openness and responsiveness does not mean that China is headed toward Western-style democracy. On the contrary, if China manages to handle a big natural disaster better than the United States handled Hurricane Katrina, the achievement may underscore Beijing’s contention that its largely nonideological brand of authoritarianism can deliver good government as well as fast growth."

"Since an earthquake flattened a swath of rural Sichuan Province on Monday, killing more than 13,000 people, the government in Beijing has mounted an aggressive rescue effort, dispatching tens of thousands of troops and promptly sending Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the disaster zone, accompanied by reporters. A hard hat on his head and a bullhorn in hand, he ducked into the wreckage of a hospital where scores of people were buried and shouted: “Hang on a bit longer. The troops are rescuing you.” Throughout the day, the images of Mr. Wen directing disaster relief officials and comforting the injured dominated the airwaves."

Although this image is acknowledged that China can be unified and bring together support within an efficient manner, there is still the argument that the Olympic Games possibly play a part in it. Thus even though the article talks much about China revising and improving it's actions, it is only one of the larger catastrophes that China has made a better contribution to.

Here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/world/asia/14response.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin