May 22,
2008: The recent earthquake in the
southwest was a major test for the armed forces, especially the army and, to a
lesser extent, the air force. The army had long been used for disaster relief,
but until the last few decades, lack of mobility (most army units had few
trucks) made it difficult to bring in troops quickly, over long distances. This
has changed, and in the last decade military units have planned, and actually
trained, to quickly move to a disaster area and do rescue and recovery work.
The
government also relented on its initial orders to keep the media out, and the
result was Chinese media giving lots of coverage to the massive military rescue
efforts. The army has recently received new combat/work uniforms, so they
looked good on TV as well. Every little bit helps. And the troops will be there
for a while, since the quake, and the aftershocks, weakened hundreds of dams in
the region. This requires disciplined manpower to evacuate threatened
populations, examine and monitor the dams, and make repairs. As a result of the
military's preparations, a disaster turned into a showcase for how professional
and competent the troops had become. Sure, it wasn't a war, but it was the next
best thing (a stressful situation that required discipline, planning and good
leadership to overcome.) The government is spending $13 billion on the relief
effort and immediate reconstruction. In addition to helping the victims, this
effort will make China look good as thousands of foreign reporters come in this
Summer for the Olympics. On the down side, with a disaster this large,
reporters will have no trouble finding people who have fallen through the
cracks and gotten a raw deal.
May 12,
2008: The largest earthquake in half a
century hit southwest China, killing at least 50,000, injuring over 100,000 and
leaving about five million people homeless and out of work.
May 10,
2008: China is investing $2.7 billion to
establish an aircraft manufacturing company. The new China Commercial Aircraft
Company will design and manufacture China's first wide-bodied commercial
aircraft. For the last two decades, China has invested in dozens of aircraft
technologies, from assembly of foreign aircraft designs in China, to
manufacturing aircraft engines using foreign (licensed) designs and foreign
advisors. In the next few decades, this will enable China to catch up with the
West in military and commercial aviation technology.
May 4,
2008: The unrest in Tibet has been
smothered by Chinese security forces and adroit diplomacy (that arranged a sham
round of negotiations with Tibetan exiles and supporters of the Dali Lama). The
unrest caused a lot of anger inside China, where people blamed foreigners (take
your pick) for stirring up "bad elements" in Tibet to attack Chinese who were
moving in and improving the economy and culture of the thinly populated and
impoverished region.
