Chinas humanitarian and international aid: Background and goals

1.     China has paid increasing effort in humanitarian aid in the past few years. What do you think is the background and goal of this move?

First and foremost, I believe event in the late 1980s eroded some of the credibility of the Party and the forces, therefore, the Party as well as the PLA undertook various tasks to restore the reputation and rebuild ties with the people and society. Disaster relief operations at home and abroad and peacekeeping operations abroad provided a excellent platform to ‘serve the people’ again. We may refer to humanitarian efforts in 1998 amidst Yangtse, Nenjiang, and Songhua Jiang flood relief operation, combating the SARS in 2003; Wenchuan earthquake relief operations in full media glare in 2008 and recent overseas evacuation of Chinese civilians from Libya and Yemen, as well as disaster relief during Nepal earthquake.

Secondly, couple of decades back, China neither had standardized norms nor the scientific and technological support for such operations, obviously owing to weak economy. The robust economic growth in the past three decades provided an impetus to perfect the mechanisms as well as employ technology in such efforts. For example it was only in 1997 that disaster relief for the first time was officially brought under the ambit of PLA military operations. In June 2005 more elaborate regulations as regards the army joining relief and rescue operations were promulgated by the State Council and Central Military Commission, whereby, the task, organisation, command, coordination and logistics were clearly defined.    Therefore, we can say that once China had set its house in order and displayed some confidence in handling such crises it was easier for it to go trans borders to signal the arrival of a benign power in neighborhood if not at global stage.      

2.     What are the characteristics of China’s international aid and what have changed over the years?

China’s international aid is in sync with its status as a developing country, however, is also part of its international obligations. As stated by a White Paper issued on foreign aid in 2011 China does not attach any political strings to the international aid. It was again in the 1990s that China started to streamline its international aid policy. In 1993, it set up the Foreign Aid Fund for Joint Ventures and Cooperative Projects with interest-free loans; in 1995, Export-Import Bank of China, began to provide medium- and long-term low-interest loans to developing countries. Most of the aid has gobe for building capacities and developing skills and thus becoming partner in the development of other developing countries.

China has carefully chosen quantity of international aid depending upon the kind of relationship it has with certain country. With pivot countries like Pakistan and other friendly countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc. that could be converted into pivots China has whole heartedly supported their cause; however, it has differentiated with those with whom it has problems, for example the Philippines. China and Philippines are embroiled on territorial issues in South China Sea, and Philippines has even approached the International Court of Justice for arbitration.      

3.     China is still a developing country and some Chinese netizens find it unfair that the government is diverting money overseas. What do you think about this situation?

China is considerably a well off society at present; the living standards of the people have been enhanced tremendously over the past three decades of reforms. Today China is the second largest economy of the world with a whopping 4 trillion dollars foreign exchange reserves. Even during the worst of times China did commit international aid to poor and developing countries in cash or kind; and today when it can afford, it would be failing Chinese leadership as well as society for not undertaking its desired international obligations. There may be a bunch of overzealous and radicalized nationalist ‘angry youths’ in China here and there, but the kind of credibility and responsibility international community would like China to undertake with its rising economic and military stature weigh heavier than the howling of the netizens.  By way of international aid both your hard and soft power is at play, China’s image and acceptability would be dented severely if it does not responds swiftly to humanitarian crises and aid swiftly.  

4.     Any thoughts on the Chinese state propaganda on this issue? Are they doing a good job?

If your words match your deed then propaganda is justifiable, if it does not the propaganda may backfire. It connects Party and Army to the society or vice versa, and also encourages those who are engaged in relief and rescue operations. Above all it also eases some of the concerns of China’s growing military power internationally.

5.     From Yemen evacuation to Nepal disaster relief, do you think China is taking its responsibility or claiming its rising power in those regions? In the same way, what do you think about China’s aid in Africa? 

I believe it is natural for China to react this way, it is the need of the hour, for as China integrates into world economic system, its overseas interests gets intertwined with its national interests. Be it Chinese national engaged in business and developmental projects abroad or China’s involvement in overseas energy and resources or the sea lines of communication, defending these interests have been integrated to PLA’s new historic missions. On the other hand while chartering into new waters it signifies that China is also ready to shoulder new responsibilities. However, it may be too early to say that China would be seeking a role of a new regional power in the regions; however, the day may not be far when China would be able to project its power beyond its traditional spares of influence.

Notwithstanding the western criticism that emerging economies of Asia are neo-colonialists of Africa, the local governments in Africa and China see the relationship and Chinese investment as a ‘win-win’ partnership. Contrary to International Monetary Fund’s and World Bank’s stringent debt financing to these countries, China’s credit lines have been likened by most African countries.  Besides, China is also engaged in humanitarian projects in Africa. During the5^th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, held in Beijing in July 2012, Chinese President Hu Jintao listed 100 schools, 30 hospitals, 30 anti-malaria centers and 20 agricultural technology demonstration centers for such projects across Africa. Thousands of unutilized hectares of land has been leased to Chinese companies by many African countries for developing agriculture in various African countries, which obviously has been termed as ‘land grab’ by many western countries.

China-Africa cooperation has contributed to Africa's development with a keen focus on social development and people's wellbeing. The aim is to improve Africa's investment environment and its people's lives. Numerous infrastructure projects built with Chinese assistance, including schools, hospitals, stadiums and urban water and power supply systems, have improved the living and working conditions of African people. To lessen Africa's burden, China had altogether canceled RMB20 billion worth of debts owed by African countries by the end of 2013.’ He revealed that in 2013, China-Africa trade reached US$210 billion, 2,000 times that of 1960. China has been Africa's biggest trading partner for five years running. More than 2,500 Chinese companies are operating in Africa, creating over 100,000 jobs for the local communities. In 2013 over 1.4 million Chinese visited Africa generating huge amount of exchange revenue for Africa.

6.     Is the PLA Navy gaining more responsibility in overseas aid programs now? If so, why? And in what form?

Ever since China established a response mechanism for emergency humanitarian relief and aid in foreign countries in September 2004, the PLA navy has acted very swiftly. For example, during 2004 tsunami, China launched one of the largest ever emergency relief operations, and provided over 100 million dollar aid to the disaster hit countries. Obviously, owing to China’s overseas interests listed above in future, we will see the PLAN and PLAAF taking such more responsibilities as we witnessed during the Libyan and Yemen crisis.