The condition after a massive earthquake Monday (12 May) in Sichuan is more serious than expected. We are sad to see the increasing number of casualties and the tragic scenes of the disaster areas.

No one can predict the occurrence of the earthquake. A sudden earthquake has ruined the lives of many, destroyed countless families, not to mention the destruction of buildings. How could God do this?

This time, we can only rely on mankind's efforts of “rescue” and “aid”.

“Rescue” tests the disaster relief actions and response capabilities of the Chinese government. While “aid” tests how China and the international community develop the spirit of love to provide manpower, financial and material assistance.

In terms of relief actions, we have witnessed the rapid, effective and open manner in which the action was carried out by the Chinese government. Premier of China Wen Jiabao arrived at the spot quickly, expressing the government's efforts and sincerity, as well as the leader's sense of responsibility and compassion.

On television screens, we could see Wen personally involved in the rescue work. It was really touching to see him standing on the rubble and shouting “don't give up” to those who were trapped inside.

In such a critical moment, we could see whether a leader and the government have got what it takes to be humanitarian and responsible.

After the disaster, the Beijing authority has promptly started the relief work. Tens of thousands of relief personnel, as well as a large number of relief supplies reached the disaster area within a short period of time.

Victims were able to avoid the second wave of damage after the disaster as they received food, clothing and accommodation aid in time. The threat of epidemic outbreaks were attended to. This reflected the government's disaster relief capability.

At the same time, the openness and transparency of the disaster relief work has in fact shown the social progress of China. It was vastly different from the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.

China was still in a closed society during the Tanshan earthquake. The government was worried that the natural disaster might affect its authority and thus had completely blacked out news of it.

At that time, people did not know the extent of the disaster, leaving the international community no way to provide assistance. It had aggravated the damage caused by the earthquake, and affected the government's legitimacy and credibility adversely. And the death toll of 240, 000 people was released only after a few years later.

Today, after the change of the Chinese government's attitude, the real situation of the disaster condition was quickly revealed to the world has shown the authority's response capability.

The people have more confidence in the government and countless external aid provided have reduced the damage of the earthquake.

Compared to the foolishness and hegemony of the Myanmar military government in coping with the cyclone disaster, it showed the different levels of the sense of responsibility and humanity of the two governments.

In fact, disaster is borderless. Disaster in any place will bring common harm to the human society. While we are praying for the victims in Sichuan, I hope that more people will develop their spirit of love and provide assistance to help the victims. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)