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 15, 2008

11:10 a.m. EDT

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QUESTION: A general question on China --

MR. MCCORMACK: Sure.

QUESTION: -- and relief efforts. Problems that China's encountering in distributing aid and rescuing people and that kind of thing, and the infrastructure problems and the problems in the provinces. Does this cast doubt on China's position as a world superpower, kind of very --

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, China is a rising power in the international system. That doesn't mean that in the face of the kind of natural disaster that they are confronting at the moment, that you aren't going to have difficulties. I mean, we have encountered our own difficulties in dealing with large-scale natural disasters. So I'm not sure that I would make the linkage between, you know, China's international status and the ability to respond. Even the most highly economically developed and prosperous countries around the globe, whether it's the United States or others, have challenges.

I'm not prepared to offer any sort of, you know, analysis of the Chinese response at this point and there will be plenty of time in the future to do that. The focus now should be on trying to save lives and remediate any damage that may have been done there that could potentially put at risk people on the ground more than is already the case.

QUESTION: Are you encouraged generally by the behavior of the Chinese Government? Have they been relatively open in letting aid in and --

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, they've been very open to international offers of support. I know that we have provided some financial assistance via the International Red Cross. There are ongoing discussions about what other in-kind assistance they might need. I know that they have allowed in a -- accepted in a Japanese search and rescue team. Like I said, there's a real need there. But they're dealing with very difficult circumstances. What was it, a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake. That's very severe. This is also a very isolated region. It's difficult terrain to work in as well.

Yeah, Viola.

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QUESTION: The foreign ministers of China, Russia, and India meeting today in Russia called for a resumption of talks between Serbia and Kosovo leaders on the status of Kosovo. And I wonder if you think there's any merit to that idea.

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, I guess we have a news flash for everybody, the status of Kosovo has been resolved. It's an independent state.

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(The briefing was concluded at 11:50 a.m.)