Two articles on May 30, "Japanese medical team heads off to Myanmar" and "Japan pledges $50 million for food (to Africa)," gave me mixed feelings. One thing is clear: On humanitarian grounds, Japan scores high as a friendly country to friends, foes and the needy -- all who let out a distress call. In return, Japan gains long-term respect from those countries and a better international image. It's also true that the media in Japan take immense pride in giving full coverage to these news items.
Like many of my Japanese friends, I was a bit surprised by news last week that the Air Self-Defense Force (was preparing to fly quake-relief aid into China). But people forget that such moves are political. Japan stood to gain a reduction of the criticism against it in the Chinese media and perhaps support for its pursuit of a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
By contrast, I wonder whether my country's (India's) small but timely $5 million to $10 million in supplies to China and Myanmar have already been forgotten. Media coverage was much less. Our media could do more to beat the drums, though this perhaps is not part of Indian tradition/culture. Still, India will soon be a major donor to countries who send out distress calls.
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