Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

Quote:

Back in 2001, I was the lead U.S. negotiator in international talks meant to transform the way that poor countries fight some of the world's most pernicious diseases -- HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Our vision looked like this: Instead of each country spending on its own, rich countries would pool donations into one coordinated fund that would give grants to help resource-strapped countries purchase medicines, build health programs, and prevent the diseases from spreading. We imagined the bulk of the money ending up in places like Lesotho, Haiti, and Uganda, where these three diseases have reached crisis levels. So it might surprise and concern you -- as much as it still does me -- to learn that one of the top grant recipients isn't in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, or impoverished Central Asia. It's a country with $2.5 trillion in foreign currency reserves: China.

Quote:

China has aggressively pursued Global Fund grants and has continued to win significant amounts with every passing year. Beijing does make a nominal contribution to the fund of $2 million annually, meaning that it has donated $16 million over the last eight years. By comparison, the United States, the leading donor, has committed $5.5 billion, and France has offered $2.5 billion over the same period. These contributing countries expect no financial return for their gift, but China has recouped its spending by 60 times.

An interesting read.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/19/chinas_billion_dollar_aid_appetite

[Fox]

I don't see a link in your post. This is the article you're talking about, right?

[Summer Wine]

Yes. Thanks for that Fox.

I have been reading that and another article on China and this persons comments caught my eye.

I am wondering how many feel similar to what he says about China.

[Fox]

[The Happy Warrior]

I would say that most of China qualifies for such aid.

[conrad2]

If the very wealthy Chinese state doesnt care about its citizens, why should anyone else? You are right: nation-state power is not the the same as the wealth of individual citizens. So where are the Chinese donations to American citizens in Appalachia and the South Bronx? The moment China started a space program is the moment they no longer deserved any foreign aid.

[The Happy Warrior]

[conrad2]

The point of the story was that China is sitting on 2.5 triilion dollars in foreign currency, yet still takes foreign aid. A lot of foreign aid. African countries are not sitting on 2.5 triilion dollars. If I had 2.5 trillion and my kids were starving and ill-clothed, it would be strange for me to accept charity for my starving kids, no?

[brickabrack]

banks all over the world do the same thing. Not that it is right, just saying.

[caniff]

[Wai Mian]

I think if the aid is being dispersed justly, this is a good program. There are huge swaths of China where people are making close to a dollar a day--Sichuan, Henan, Guangxi, etc. Of course, in a system like what the Chinese have, that's a huge 'if'.

[rollo]

There are people in Guizhou ,Sichuan living on $100 dollars a year. But this money is not going to help them. They will build a bright new hospital but it is cash to see a doctor. Equipment will be bought with the money then sold to big cities. All this is doing is making rich Chinese richer. Of course part of this aid money goes to hire and pay Western employees who sit in offices in shanghai or Beijing, do nothing and draw fat salaries.

Middle and upper class chinese despise the rural poor. They are not going to help them. The only way out of poverty for these people is to bootstrap it.

If anyone believes in Chinese altruism in Africa I have some Florida land for sale!

[No_hite_pls]

[No_hite_pls]