Will quake prompt China maturation?

NEWS ANALYSIS: A Rescue in China, Uncensored, By ANDREW JACOBS, New York Times, May 14, 2008

Fascinating to watch. If China truly matures politically on this response, it will begin to see the selfish strategic logic in doing the same for other states in a SysAdmin function. It will understand what diplomatic benefits accrue.

Plus, having to distance itself from the Myanmar junta's response is a good additional dynamic.

This could end up being a serious System Perturbation, set up nicely by the snow storms last winter and the CCP leadership realizing those were a wake-up call.

(Thanks: Kilngoddess)

Comments

[Nathan Machula]

I'm hopeful that this is the case, especially given the Chinese government's reaction to international assistance contra Burma. However, the cynic in me worries that this is taking the world's attention away from important issues like Tibet and human rights. Before the quake, they were under daily scrutiny in the media. But since then, it almost seems they've been given a pass.

Also, China is still reluctant to accept assistance on some problems, from certain sources. Take this article for instance. Although written very tongue-in-cheek, it has a serious point. China may not have learned its lesson from SARS, and is probably underreporting the spread of the E-71 virus that's already infected thousands. Taiwan has had experience with the disease, but can't help much, since China has adamantly opposed its entry to the World Health Organization in mere observer status.

[LC]

Why does Taiwan need to be in WHO to help with a disease in China?

[Jarrod Myrick]

Why no uproar over Greece's veto of Macedonia's entry into NATO? Will the Chinese flip when we open the casinos back up in Havana?