Typhoon Haiyan Disaster in the Philippines

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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The PLAN has always been conservative and unless the Philippines directly requested help from China, I doubt they'd send any warships like 071 there even for humanitarian aid. Some cargo ships loaded with sanitary and medical equipment sound more like it.

I was thinking the very same thing this morning as I watched the news.. the Philippines should as first...

HOWEVER.. what can't China give the RP a call and ask them do they need assistance?.. What can we (China) do?...Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. Nothing wrong with being kind. I can give you Bible scriptures on being kind if anyone so desires.
 
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Equation

Lieutenant General
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Maybe they did through diplomatic channels, we just haven't seen it.

Anyway doesn't matter what the Chinese government do they will get bashed by western media. And it has already started.

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China's meager aid to the Philippines could dent its image

BEIJING (Reuters) - China may have wasted the chance to build goodwill in Southeast Asia with its relatively paltry donation to the Philippines in the wake of a devastating typhoon, especially with the United States sending an aircraft carrier and Japan ramping up aid.

The world's second-largest economy is a growing investor in Southeast Asia, where it is vying with the United States and Japan for influence. But China's assertiveness in pressing its claim to the disputed South China Sea has strained ties with several regional countries, most notably the Philippines.

China's government has promised $100,000 in aid to Manila, along with another $100,000 through the Chinese Red Cross - far less than pledged by other economic heavyweights.

Japan has offered $10 million in aid and is sending in an emergency relief team, for instance, while Australia has donated $9.6 million.

"The Chinese leadership has missed an opportunity to show its magnanimity," said Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong Kong who focuses on China's ties with Southeast Asia.

"While still offering aid to the typhoon victims, it certainly reflects the unsatisfactory state of relations (with Manila)."

China's ties with the Philippines are already fragile as a decades-old territorial squabble over the South China Sea enters a more contentious chapter, with claimant nations spreading deeper into disputed waters in search of energy supplies, while building up their navies.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim parts of the South China Sea, making it one of the region's biggest flashpoints.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a 10-nation grouping that includes the Philippines, has been talking to China about a binding code of conduct in South China Sea to ease the friction, but Beijing's frugal aid hints at a deeply entrenched rivalry that could make forging consensus difficult.

Even China's state-run Global Times newspaper, known for its nationalistic and often hawkish editorial views, expressed concern about the impact on Beijing's international standing.

"China, as a responsible power, should participate in relief operations to assist a disaster-stricken neighboring country, no matter whether it's friendly or not," the paper said in a commentary.

"China's international image is of vital importance to its interests. If it snubs Manila this time, China will suffer great losses."

The United States is also providing $20 million in immediate aid. Japan said it will give $10 million and send a small number of soldiers and medical personnel.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China would consider more aid as the situation developed, but did not say why Beijing had offered less than other countries.

"China has also suffered from the disaster, so we very much understand and sympathize with the current hardships that the Philippine people are facing," Qin told a regular briefing, referring to the deaths of at least seven people and $734 million in economic losses when the much-weakened storm swiped China's southern provinces.

"We are willing to consider providing more support and aid within our capacity as it goes."

Lye Liang Fook of the East Asian Institute in Singapore said it was impossible to separate China's anger over territorial claims from the question of disaster relief.

"Politically there is a lack of trust, and under the circumstances, the fact that China is willing to extend aid is quite significant," he said. "The two issues are linked to each other."

Comments on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter, overwhelmingly opposed China giving aid to the Philippines.

"For God's sake, give them nothing," wrote one user. "We've given them enough in the past."

Cheng said public sentiment would factor into China's decision.

"I certainly think that relief and aid for natural disasters should not be affected by political relations. But the Chinese authorities are handicapped by domestic nationalist feelings as well," he said. "China should have used the opportunity to improve its image."
 

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Time for the PLAN to man up and get under way for humanitarian relief in the Republic of the Philippines...no excuses..just do it!
I am glad the PRC is committing $ 1million in aid to the Philippines. That should not be scoffed at and represents something, if managed properly, that will help a lot of Philippine people.

But the monetary aid will come later as homes and infrastructure are rebuilt and food supplies are increased.

Right now, and for the next few weeks, what is needed most desperately are strong, warm bodies and equipment. helicopters, cranes, trained medical personnel, all willing to pitch in and help.

The PLAN, despite its conservative nature (and in fact precisely because of its historical nature) could really establish a lot of credibility and increase its respect if it sent a task force centered on one or two LPDs, or even the Liaoning itself, with escorts, AOR vessels, and other supply vessels to simply help.

That act right there would do more to increase the respect for and stature of the PLAN and PRC amongst Western Pacific nations than all of the other negotiating and military buildup.

They would be showing they are willing to use all of that very expensive equipment, despite their well known conservative nature, to help their neighbors, and that they have reached a point both materially and ideologically where they are willing to do so.

I hope they do.
 

solarz

Brigadier
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

I am glad the PRC is committing $ 1million in aid to the Philippines. That should not be scoffed at and represents something, if managed properly, that will help a lot of Philippine people.

So is it 1 million or 100k? Everything I read on google news says 100k, though of course they don't mention whether that's the initial sum or the total committed aid.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

Thanks for posting gents. I really hope China can do more. I've already expressed my opinion on that subject.

USS George Washington CSG has been ordered by SECDEF Hagel to make best speed to the Republic of the Philippines.


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Release Date: 11/11/2013 9:53:00 PM

From Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and other U.S. Navy ships to make best speed for the Republic of the Philippines.

The aircraft carrier, which carries 5,000 Sailors and more than 80 aircraft, is currently in Hong Kong for a port visit. The crew is being recalled early from shore leave and the ship is expected to be underway later this evening.

In company with the carrier will be the cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and the destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89). The supply ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) is already underway and will rendezvous with the group as they get closer. USS Lassen (DDG 82) got underway yesterday for the region. Embarked on board USS George Washington, is Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5).

CVW-5 is a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions including disaster relief and includes the "Golden Falcons" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk.CVW-5 is a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions including disaster relief and includes the "Golden Falcons" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk.

As needed, these ships and aircraft will be able to provide humanitarian assistance, supplies, and medical care in support of the ongoing efforts led by the government and military of the Republic of the Philippines.

The ships should be on station within 48-72 hours. The Defense Department is continuing to work closely with the Philippine government to determine what, if any, additional assets may be required.

HSM-77 has eight aircraft. That's a total of 20 helos..Plus the helos of the Strike group. That would equal about 10 more helos. So possibly 30 helos in all.
 

ManilaBoy45

Junior Member
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

China's Meager Aid to the Philippines Could Dent its Image

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By Megha Rajagopalan
BEIJING Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:50am EST

(Reuters) - China may have wasted the chance to build goodwill in Southeast Asia with its relatively paltry donation to the Philippines in the wake of a devastating typhoon, especially with the United States sending an aircraft carrier and Japan ramping up aid.The world's second-largest economy is a growing investor in Southeast Asia, where it is vying with the United States and Japan for influence. But China's assertiveness in pressing its claim to the disputed South China Sea has strained ties with several regional countries, most notably the Philippines.

China's government has promised $100,000 in aid to Manila, along with another $100,000 through the Chinese Red Cross - far less than pledged by other economic heavyweights.Japan has offered $10 million in aid and is sending in an emergency relief team, for instance, while Australia has donated $9.6 million."The Chinese leadership has missed an opportunity to show its magnanimity," said Joseph Cheng, a political science professor at the City University of Hong Kong who focuses on China's ties with Southeast Asia."While still offering aid to the typhoon victims, it certainly reflects the unsatisfactory state of relations (with Manila)."
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
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Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

I'm going to give the PRC a few more days to organize any more aid or relief packages, if there is any, before making my final judgement.

Even the global times (state media) is saying the country should put aside its territorial disputes and contribute more.
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Frankly I think an 071, a few frigates, and the peace ark hospital ship could all be put to good use here, and could group together 7 helos among themselves. While not a massive amount, even the US CSG can only provide 30, and the UK HMS Daring only one.
(Given the country's proximity I'm sure China could send some Il-76s to airdrop some aid in too!)


If government aid is only 100k USD that is rather stingy, and if it isn't increased I suppose it only demonstrates how much the PRC values its core interests. This would very much be akin to severing high level diplomatic or military exchanges due to another president courting the dalai lama or selling weapons to taiwan :/ the ultimate cold shoulder.
Then again the recent bus hostage situation in 2010 didn't help to seed any desire for goodwill either.
It's always unfortunate when passionate political strain comes between humanitarian assistance.


I wonder if the Third Plenum may have delayed an executive response, as the Foreign Ministry may be unwilling to make significant decisions that the top leaders are too busy to sign off on.
 
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bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

More USN and USMC assets head to the Republic of the Philippines.

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WASHINGTON—The US Navy has ordered three amphibious ships to prepare to head to the Philippines to help victims of the devastating Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan), officials said Tuesday.

“They are on standby in Sasebo,” a Navy official told AFP, referring to a port in southern Japan. “They are uniquely suited for this type of mission.”

The vessels awaiting orders are the USS Denver, an amphibious transport dock ship, and the Ashland and Germantown, amphibious warfare ships designed to transport and launch landing craft.

All three have landing decks that can serve helicopters as well as medical facilities and the capability to produce desalinated water.

The US military often employs its versatile amphibious ships for disaster relief efforts.

Washington had already ordered urgent emergency efforts in response to the massive typhoon, which has destroyed entire coastal communities, possibly claiming 10,000 lives.

On Monday evening, the Pentagon announced it was dispatching the aircraft carrier George Washington and its accompanying cruisers and destroyers, including its fleet of helicopters and airplanes.

The carrier group is due to arrive on Thursday or Friday.

Another naval destroyer and a supply ship are also en route to the Philippines.

The American military has a team of 243 Marines on the ground in hard-hit Tacloban on Leyte island to carry out an initial assessment of humanitarian needs.

More...

U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES, PACIFIC - At the request of the Government of the Philippines, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has directed U.S. Pacific Command to support U.S. Government humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. U.S. Pacific Command has designated the commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, as the executive agent for this operation.

U.S. Military assets began moving Sunday (Philippine time) to begin initial assessments of support requirements. The forward command element/humanitarian assistance survey team, led by Marine Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, the deputy commander of the Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and the commanding general of the Third Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3d MEB), is continuously assessing the situation along with the Government and Armed Forces of the Philippines to determine how to best make use of personnel and resources. Approximately 215 U.S. military personnel are currently deployed in support of this operation.

The initial focus includes surface maritime search and rescue (SAR), airborne maritime SAR, medium-heavy helicopter lift support, fixed-wing lift support and logistics enablers. This includes four MV-22B Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 and five KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, both part of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, based in Okinawa, Japan. The MV-22 provides a unique capability in this type of operation: with its short/vertical take-off and landing capabilities, it can operate in austere environments. Its ability to convert quickly to fixed-wing configuration gives it greatly increased speed and range over traditional rotary wing aircraft.

Two U.S. Navy P-3 Orion aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, based in Jacksonville, Florida and currently on a six month rotation to Misawa, Japan in support of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, are in the Philippines to assist with the Armed Forces of the Philippines' search and rescue operations.

On Monday, Marine Corps C-130s assisted in the delivery of 38,000 pounds of relief supplies provided by the Government of the Philippines, as well as the transport of 210 aid workers. On Tuesday, MEB personnel will assist with receiving relief supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-donated relief supplies, as well as assisting with the transport of those supplies to the affected areas.

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ManilaBoy45

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Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

China Yet to Deploy 'Substantial' Navy to Aid Philippines

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Published: Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013 | 12:03 AM ETSri Jegarajah By: Sri Jegarajah | Senior Correspondent, CNBC Asia Pacific

CNBC's Sri Jegarajah reports on the latest updates from Typhoon Haiyan, live in Manila.As international relief efforts get underway in the Philippines following the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan, superpower China's contribution has been disproportionately low. Beijing yesterday offered $100,000 in cash, a figure that seems modest compared with its other recent contributions for humanitarian relief abroad, the New York Times reported. Asked if the donation was scaled according to the current chill in relations between China and the Philippines, Qin Gang, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to answer, the New York Times said.

Although the world's second-largest economy has beefed up its 'blue-water' navy enabling it to deliver humanitarian assistance to disaster-hit areas in Asia, China hasn't signaled that it will commit this formidable sea-borne platform to support aid operations after typhoon Haiyan killed an estimated 10,000 people when it swept through central Philippines on Friday.China yet to deploy 'substantial' navy to aid Philippines.The People's Liberation Army (PLA) - the world's largest military – does have a lot of assets to offer, according to Rory Medcalf, Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute in Australia, not least of all a fully-equipped navy hospital ship called the 'Peace Ark' launched in 2007. The ship has 300 hospital beds, eight operating rooms and 107 medical workers, including doctors and nurses. The PLA now has substantial maritime assets that can be turned towards disaster relief," Medcalf said in blog post on Monday entitled 'Typhoon Haiyan and the geopolitics of disaster relief.
 
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Hytenxic

New Member
Re: World News Thread & Breaking News!!

I think we have to keep in mind that China is still dealing with the effects of the typhoon itself. The death toll is around at 7 and 3 million more people are currently affected in 3 provinces near the coastal region. China should assess their own damage before sending any substantial aid.
 
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