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

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 14, 2008

12:46 p.m. EDT

MR. CASEY: Okay. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Glad to be here with you. Just want to note, since I know that sometimes our e-mails do not get out as quickly as possible, that we will be having a special briefing today at 2:00. USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore will be here to talk about both our efforts to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone in Burma, as well as what we're doing to assist the Chinese in light of the recent earthquake there.

On Burma, someone had asked earlier this morning. I just want to verify that we did have five more C-130 flights go in today, carrying U.S. humanitarian relief supplies. They have arrived in Rangoon. And just to give you a sense, again, these are the kinds of very basic humanitarian supplies that we would normally provide after these kinds of events. So that includes things like plastic sheeting, bottles of water, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and other kinds of fairly basic items that we think, to date, the supplies we've been able to get in should be sufficient to benefit potentially up to about 100,000 people. And certainly, Henrietta will be able to address this a little more for you later this afternoon, but I figured I'd start with that, and basically anything else on that or any other questions.

Yeah, Sylvie.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: If I may -- I'm sorry-- if I may include China --

MR. CASEY: You sure you don't want to answer your phone? (Laughter.)

QUESTION: No, thank you. If I may include China in that --

MR. CASEY: Sure.

QUESTION: There's a briefing on the Capitol Hill by Secretary Boucher later on.

MR. CASEY: Yeah.

QUESTION: As far as China quake is concerned, their death tolls are also rising there. And is there any -- I understand U.S. has helped, maybe half a million dollars or something. Was there any direct request from the Chinese or (inaudible) coordination as far as --

MR. CASEY: Well, the Chinese Government has been accepting support from us and from others. We did -- our Ambassador did provide half a million dollars in immediate assistance through the Red Cross in response to an appeal for Chinese earthquake victims. I know the Chinese Government has been speaking with us and others. I believe the White House talked about the President's call on that subject and the very positive response that he got from the Chinese in terms of thanking us for our support and for our willingness to assist them in this effort. Again, I think Henrietta can talk to you a little more about some of the things we're going to continue to do after this to be able to help support the Chinese in this effort.

Yeah, Michel.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:07 p.m.)