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Chinese Offical Promotes Rescue Efforts in Haiti

   Stephanie Ho | Beijing 19 January 2010
   Chinese rescue team in Haiti

Photo: AP

   United Nations handout shows search and rescue team members from China
   carrying  a  body  on  a  stretcher  as they work in the rubble of the
   United Nations mission in Port au Prince, 16 Jan 2010

   China says its rescue crews in Haiti have helped many people suffering
   in the aftermath of last week's earthquake, not just Chinese people.

   Chinese  Foreign  Ministry  spokesman  Ma Zhaoxu says accusations that
   Chinese  rescue  crews in Haiti only helped Chinese people are, in his
   words, "false and out of ulterior motives."

   Ma  says  Chinese rescuers left for Haiti at the first opportunity and
   found  the  bodies  of  eight Chinese who were serving with the United
   Nations peacekeeping mission there.

   He  says at the same time, Chinese doctors set up a medical station in
   Haiti and have treated more than 200 people.

   He  was  responding  to  news  reports  that the Chinese team was only
   interested in rescuing Chinese nationals.

   Chinese  aid workers are still in Haiti, and Ma says it is hard to say
   when they will return home.

   Ma  says  how  long the rescuers will stay in Haiti will be decided by
   how the situation develops.

   Chinese  media  reports  say the rescue team arrived in Port-au-Prince
   last  Thursday,  and  has enough supplies to sustain its work in Haiti
   for 15 days.

   The Chinese government is sending to Haiti an aid package worth nearly
   $4.5  million,  including  tents, stretchers, food, medicine, clothing
   and water purification equipment.

   Beijing and Port-au-Prince do not have diplomatic relations.

   Taiwan,  which  does have formal ties with Haiti, also has been active
   in  relief efforts and to date has given $5 million. There are reports
   that  Taiwan  President  Ma Yingjeou may go to the Caribbean island to
   deliver aid.

   On  Tuesday,  the  Chinese  Foreign  Ministry  spokesman  responded to
   reports  about Taiwan's efforts by saying Beijing firmly sticks to its
   one-China policy, "under any circumstances."

   Although  Taiwan  is separately governed, China considers the island a
   renegade province and a part of its territory.

   Ma  says  China  hopes that Beijing and Taipei can enhance contact and
   cooperation,  to,  in  his  words,  "jointly  uphold  the humanitarian
   spirit."  But  he says to his knowledge the two sides have not had any
   contact over Haiti relief efforts.

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