Haitian disaster relief: Implications of Chinese and Taiwanese assistance

The human and economic toll of the January earthquake in Haiti highlights the institutional weakness of many poor countries when faced with natural disasters. With difficulty providing basic services before the earthquake and the destruction of many aid centres (including the UN mission headquarters), the need for immediate foreign assistance is undeniable. While the immediate international response has been remarkable, mirroring that of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, another factor may go largely unnoticed: China’s offer of assistance.

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