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Breaking News - Questions raised as the CCP refuses to accept external aid

The massive earthquake that shook Sichuan on May 12 has captured attention all over the world. Many foreign agencies are ready to lend a hand, but rescue teams have not been given permission by Chinese officials to enter into China. Whilst air forces and military police have entered the quake site of Wenchuang, they are still waiting on equipped aids and are using simple tools and even their hands to pull out people from under the rubble. Chinese scholars point out that the officials might be refusing external aid to save face or to protect national secrets, or they might be hiding the truths and are not ruling out the possibility of a nuclear weapons base in Sichuan.

According to Japan’s evening paper the Daily News, the refusal by the Chinese Communist regime to accept foreign aid is very puzzling to Japanese aid groups. An official from the Japanese Foreign Ministry reiterated that if China agrees, aid will be sent. However China’s ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai has responded that “the matter of aids is yet to be negotiated between the two governments”.

Assistant professor of Nanjing Normal University Guo Quan says that, it is obvious that the Chinese officials will accept money and goods, but are refusing to let foreign aid groups enter China. This refusal is unwise and inhumane. Guo says the 72 hours after an earthquake is the golden time to find survivors. After this period, the injured are much less likely to survive due to blood loss, pain, hunger and dehydration. Experts from the World Health Organisation have also said that after 72 hours, you either find bodies or a miracle.

Regarding the motives of the refusal, Guo Quang said that, on the one hand, the CCP might be afraid that by allowing foreign rescue workers, they might come to know information and scandals that it sought to cover up. On the other hand, there could be a nuclear base in the region. Guo said that after the earthquakes there have been messages to remind people to watch out for local radiation, and officials have repeatedly stressed the issue of radiation. According to Chinese official media, the Environmental Protection Agency has sent out emergency warnings to on May 13 to local environmental agencies in Sichuan and surrounding areas to closely monitor the environment indicator; ensuring there are no dangers posed by nuclear radiation; to understand the situation of sensitive facilities such as dangerous chemicals factories and sewage treatments to prevent environmental contamination.

According to Sichuan residents, the transport routes from Wenchuan city going west and north into the mountains are under martial law. People are prohibited from going near the region and some residents have reported seeing troops who enter the mountain to be wearing Anti-chemical outfits. Up to now, only military aid is allowed into the region, and not even the media is allowed near. This is apparently to prevent leaking of confidential information, and also to prevent contamination of people and animals should an explosion occur which would attract widespread international attention as well as a threat to the CCP’s rule.

The above news is brought to you by Qian Wen and Chris Thomas for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network