China gets credit for its tsunami disaster relief efforts....But some things never change

China is getting involved with the relief efforts for the victims of Tsunami disaster on December 26. I have always been amazed with PRC officials and their form over substance approach to problems outside of the country. However, this time, it appears as if there is a real effort to become involved in the relief efforts as outlined in an article here.

The Chinese emphasize that they are just trying to respond appropriately to the massive disaster. But others say that there is another reason that China is taking such an active role: As a rising regional power, it is eager to recast itself as a kinder and gentler neighbor.

However, China continues it juvenile antics with regard to Taiwan when it threatened Japan it it allowed the 81 year old former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui to visit his former alma-mater Kyoto University.

The Chinese government had warned Japan that it faced a "fierce reaction" if it allowed Lee to visit, saying he would use the occasion to promote Taiwanese separatism.

Read this article here. Of course Chinese officials were babbling on for days about the private visit of the former Taiwanese President even while people's lives were being snuffed out by the December 26th Tsunami disaster and immediate help was needed. Of course the US military was one of the first on the scenes, delivering vital aid quickly.

Of course, I think that the China donation to the Tsunami victims of US$60 million was orchestrated only to top the donation of US$50 million by Taiwan.