U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 13, 2008

12:43 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: An aid question for China or is that --

MR. MCCORMACK: That's totally separate.

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QUESTION: Well my question -- Libby seemed to start asking about the state of play with China --

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.

QUESTION: on U.S. earthquake aid. Could you --

MR. MCCORMACK: Right now, the Chinese Government has said it will accept donations. And I believe that they have specified monetary donations, and we have approved a $500,000 initial donation. The Embassy came back to Washington with that request. It has been approved. So I would expect that that is going to be delivered very soon. I understand also that the Red -- International Red Cross is going to be putting out a call for donations. We'll, of course, take a look to see what we can do to help with what is very clearly a very difficult situation for the Chinese Government and the Chinese people as they deal with this natural disaster.

Again, from our point of view and our folks, our people are accounted for. Our consulate in Chengdu is up and working and appears that, at least through visible inspection, hasn't suffered any damage. And we're continuing to work with people on the ground there as well as anybody who has an interest in welfare and whereabouts of friends or loved ones.

Yeah.

QUESTION: There has been reports of some Americans who are in a panda sanctuary somewhere out there and they can't be found. Do you have any information --

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- about that?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, the -- I think the responsible Chinese ministry has said that they are okay and accounted for. We haven't had any direct contact with them, though.

QUESTION: Okay.

MR. MCCORMACK: So I can't based on our direct contact or experience with them, I can't say that they're okay, but we have heard they are okay.

QUESTION: And then the other question was, you had said, I think, yesterday, that the U.S. is considering or making ready certain teams to go in for search and rescue and so on. Do you know any news on that?

MR. MCCORMACK: Right. The offer still stands. Thus far, the Chinese haven't put in a request for those -- that kind of assistance. And, you know, having, back during Katrina, been on the receiving end of those kinds of offers, very oftentimes, you know, offers of monetary assistance are really the things that are most useful during these initial periods.

Yeah.

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QUESTION: Can I go back to China for just a second?

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.

QUESTION: 500,000 is for who?

MR. MCCORMACK: Disaster -- it's disaster relief. It goes to the NGOs working on disaster relief.

QUESTION: That's what the Chinese have asked for? They've asked for cash donations to NGOs or they've asked --

MR. MCCORMACK: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- for the money to go to them?

MR. MCCORMACK: Oh, I think it goes through NGOs. I can't tell you exactly what the end use is for, Matt, but it's humanitarian assistance. I can't tell you whether it's for food or tarps or plastic sheeting or water, that sort of thing.

QUESTION: But it goes to NGOs?

MR. MCCORMACK: I think it goes through NGOs.

Yeah, Michel.

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(The briefing was concluded at 1:10 p.m.)