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Tiger vs Dragon again, this time to help Myanmar

The worst cyclone to hit Myanmar in recent years has led to neighbours and friends India and China scrambling to be first off the block with humanitarian assistance.

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India, China compete to send relief to cyclone-hit neighbour

NEW DELHI: The worst cyclone to hit Myanmar in recent years has led to neighbours and friends India and China scrambling to be first off the block with humanitarian assistance. The two are competing to woo the ruling military junta and the cyclone has given them the right opportunity to reach out. Both the Asian giants are competing for big-power status.

“India does not see disaster as an opportunity. There is no politics, no one-upmanship when a natural disaster which has claimed over 10,000 lives has occurred. Not just us, China, Thailand, the US and the entire world community wants to help. India is certainly not competing here with China,” says Kondapillai of the capital’s elite Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Though Myanmar has little contact with the western world, the entire international community is ready to help because of the scale and size of the disaster. In a rare gesture, the military rulers have appealed to the international community for help. However, there is still the problem of visas for western aid workers.

China was first off the block when it pledged $1 million as initial aid for relief and rehabilitation. On Wednesday, a Chinese Boeing 747-400 landed in Yangon carrying 60 tonnes of emergency relief material. China president Hu Jintao promised further aid in a message on Monday to Myanmar’s top leader, senior general Than Shwe.

“As a friendly neighbour, China will provide help and aid to Myanmar’s reconstruction efforts,” Hu was quoted as saying.

Though India has not yet pledged funds, it has ferried supplies to the capital city, with two AN-32 Russian transport planes airlifting medicine, tents, blankets and other relief material landing in Yangon. Roughly eight metric tonnes of material is on board. Another aircraft is being loaded with material and will take off as soon as it is ready.

Earlier on Monday, two Indian Navy ships, INS Rana and Kirpal, were dispatched with initial aid from Port Blair. The ships reached Yangon Port early on Tuesday morning and anchored four miles from the harbour, awaiting offloading.
 
Indian officials said they were waiting for a word from the government in Myanmar to pinpoint their needs. “We have learnt from our own experience in dealing with natural disasters that the focus should be on what the needs of the people are. Once we are told about the requirements, we will send whatever is needed,” the official explained.

On Monday, after the news of the cyclone came in, president Pratibha Patil, prime minister Manmohan Singh and foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee sent messages of condolence and support for the people of Myanmar in their time of need.

Indian officials angrily denied suggestions New Delhi was competing with Beijing to reach out to the ruling military junta in Myanmar. “This is rubbish. We have excellent ties with Myanmar and as a neigbouring country, we naturally want to do our bit for the people. Why are you pinpointing China, the whole world wants to send humanitarian aid to Myanmar. Nobody is competing here,” an official said.

g_seema@dnaindia.net

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