Pathetic donation to the Philippines from the world's second largest economy

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The UN has launched an appeal for $301m (£190m) to help relief efforts in typhoon-hit areas of the Philippines.

Thousands of people are feared to have been killed by Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the central Philippines on Friday.

The UN says more than 11 million people are believed to have been affected by the storm, and some 673,000 displaced.

The UK government has pledged to match donations up to a total of £5m, on top of £10m it has already agreed to give.

The U.S. has promised $20 million in aid for victims of Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines and has mobilized an aircraft carrier for the relief effort. Britain is also sending a warship and has pledged $16 million. The Vatican is dispatching $4 million, Japan $10 million and New Zealand $1.7 million. And China, the world’s most populous nation and second largest economy?

It’s handing over $100,000.

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Some argue
“Since the Philippine government has the budget to purchase American weapons, they should not want for money.”

What do you think?

Where was this report from, could you post the source? I can't say I'm surprised tbh, maybe us Brits and Americans are too generous in aid however that's a different debate altogether!

Two different sources :-) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24910918) (http://world.time.com/2013/11/13/chi...100000-in-aid/)

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Originally Posted by Mark

Where was this report from, could you post the source? I can't say I'm surprised tbh, maybe us Brits and Americans are too generous in aid however that's a different debate altogether!

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...9AB0LM20131112

It's not that report, but it tells the story. They should have not even donated anything because from a political perspective, they're making themselves look like greedy. Obviously this is due to tensions over claims over some islands.

Ok now thats pretty sad of China to donate 100 grand.. like really thats the cost of a small home in Canada so im sure they could have donated much much more.

At the end of the day they don't have to do anything, they have plenty of their own (self induced) problems to deal with. Though this will bite them on the arse at some point I imagine.

I would expect more to be donated even from those countries tbh.

But that's an awful contribution from China

$100,000 to buy people much needed things. How dare they! Absolutely disgraceful!

At least they donated something, they didn't have to donate anything. You're all acting like they had to donate something. Every little bit counts

Charity ceases to become charity if it becomes compulsory.

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Originally Posted by Kardan

$100,000 to buy people much needed things. How dare they! Absolutely disgraceful!

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Originally Posted by sexpot

At least they donated something, they didn't have to donate anything. You're all acting like they had to donate something. Every little bit counts

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Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

Charity ceases to become charity if it becomes compulsory.

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All this^. I was flipping out at someone on Skype yesterday because of this thread. Yes it's not the largest amount they could have donated fair dos, but they still decided to donate something. Besides, if you're going to question the fact they should be donating more - why don't you encourage China to support every other charitable cause out there as it's pathetic if they don't do so supposedly. People are so ungrateful sometimes...

I think the people moaning at people moaning are missing the point. In terms of international aid, it IS a pathetic donation. It is particularly interesting given the supposed ties in the ASEAN community, and I do think it will come back and bite them in the future.

Having said that, we shouldn't be surprised given the dispute currently ongoing between Philippines and China.

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Originally Posted by Intersocial

All this^. I was flipping out at someone on Skype yesterday because of this thread. Yes it's not the largest amount they could have donated fair dos, but they still decided to donate something. Besides, if you're going to question the fact they should be donating more - why don't you encourage China to support every other charitable cause out there as it's pathetic if they don't do so supposedly. People are so ungrateful sometimes...

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Originally Posted by Payasam

I think the people moaning at people moaning are missing the point. In terms of international aid, it IS a pathetic donation. It is particularly interesting given the supposed ties in the ASEAN community, and I do think it will come back and bite them in the future.

Having said that, we shouldn't be surprised given the dispute currently ongoing between Philippines and China.

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As Payasam has said, this is an international aid issue (this was a storm more powerful than hurricane Katrina remember) and is different to "every other" charitable aid issue.

Those who are able are meant to unite together and support those in times of need and China have really let the Philippine people down here.

Perhaps this is another reason to dislike the Chinese.

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Originally Posted by Payasam

I think the people moaning at people moaning are missing the point. In terms of international aid, it IS a pathetic donation. It is particularly interesting given the supposed ties in the ASEAN community, and I do think it will come back and bite them in the future.

Having said that, we shouldn't be surprised given the dispute currently ongoing between Philippines and China.

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Originally Posted by Ardemax

As Payasam has said, this is an international aid issue (this was a storm more powerful than hurricane Katrina remember) and is different to "every other" charitable aid issue.

Those who are able are meant to unite together and support those in times of need and China have really let the Philippine people down here.

Perhaps this is another reason to dislike the Chinese.

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So basically, you're both saying $100,000 = $0?

I'm sure the Philippines are grateful for any money they get and have a lot more to worry about right now then China trying to be awkward and making a point.

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Originally Posted by Kardan

So basically, you're both saying $100,000 = $0?

I'm sure the Philippines are grateful for any money they get and have a lot more to worry about right now then China trying to be awkward and making a point.

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Yes, because my post says $100,000 = 0. I am merely saying on a relative scale it is very very little - this is international aid, not your student debts (ie. $100k would be a lot to you, but nothing in this context).

It just seems like this is more of a political insult by China, rather than an actual desire to help.

I know it isn't right to make any comparison but in support of China, this was Philippines' reaction to 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

http://i44.tinypic.com/29fqcux.png

69,195 people had died. Many more injured and millions homeless.

chinese ppl r stingy. i know 1 that uses his 10% staff discount when he spends 18p on a reduced item at the end of the day in the store (and he literally spent 18p that is the total cost of his shop)

and he even went to the customer service once to get the extra money back when 1 of his reduced items went through at 18p instead of 9p

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Originally Posted by subo

chinese ppl r stingy. i know 1 that uses his 10% staff discount when he spends 18p on a reduced item at the end of the day in the store (and he literally spent 18p that is the total cost of his shop)

and he even went to the customer service once to get the extra money back when 1 of his reduced items went through at 18p instead of 9p

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I would probably do the same - why spend money you don't need to?

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Originally Posted by karter

I know it isn't right to make any comparison but in support of China, this was Philippines' reaction to 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

http://i44.tinypic.com/29fqcux.png

69,195 people had died. Many more injured and millions homeless.

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Important to look at the GDP of each country though - China's is 8.27 TRILLION, compared to Philippines 250 BILLION.

Having said that, the only reason the Chinese invest in Africa is to get natural resources... :L

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Originally Posted by Payasam

Yes, because my post says $100,000 = 0. I am merely saying on a relative scale it is very very little - this is international aid, not your student debts (ie. $100k would be a lot to you, but nothing in this context).

It just seems like this is more of a political insult by China, rather than an actual desire to help.

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You said $100,000 is a pathetic donation. Surely $0 is even more pathetic? The Philippines need as much money as they can get. Yes, it's a very little amount, and yes, it probably is because they are currently in land disputes but right now they need everything they can get. They've got better things to do with their time then moan that China didn't give them as much money as other countries.

And what do you say about countries that haven't donated anything at all?

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Originally Posted by Kardan

You said $100,000 is a pathetic donation. Surely $0 is even more pathetic? The Philippines need as much money as they can get. Yes, it's a very little amount, and yes, it probably is because they are currently in land disputes but right now they need everything they can get. They've got better things to do with their time then moan that China didn't give them as much money as other countries.

And what do you say about countries that haven't donated anything at all?

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I was going to say in my previous post about the question you've just asked.

If I was in a restaurant, I would consider it an insult to the waiter if I left them a 2p tip (or anything else that was seriously low compared to the value of the bill). I don't think China were obliged to give anything, and I never said that at all - I just think it is more of a stab at the Philippines than anything else.

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Originally Posted by Payasam

I was going to say in my previous post about the question you've just asked.

If I was in a restaurant, I would consider it an insult to the waiter if I left them a 2p tip (or anything else that was seriously low compared to the value of the bill). I don't think China were obliged to give anything, and I never said that at all - I just think it is more of a stab at the Philippines than anything else.

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Well in that case we agree :P And whilst the waiter analogy holds most of the time, in this case, the waiter would have to be homeless (for example) or where he desperately needed as much money as he could get... Pretty much like the Philippines now. 2p is better than nothing, even if it is only 2p. If you serve enough people in a day, at least you'll be able to buy a loaf of bread at the end of the day.

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Originally Posted by Kardan

Well in that case we agree :P And whilst the waiter analogy holds most of the time, in this case, the waiter would have to be homeless (for example) or where he desperately needed as much money as he could get... Pretty much like the Philippines now. 2p is better than nothing, even if it is only 2p. If you serve enough people in a day, at least you'll be able to buy a loaf of bread at the end of the day.

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Indeed, however if you look at what the UN says it needs ($301,000,000) for this appeal, you would need 3010 countries to each give $100,000, however baring in mind the UN only recognises 193 countries as member states (or something around that mark?), this would mean they would end up over 15 times short of their target!

As I say, I don't think they had to donate anything at all, I just think looking at the context of the disaster, I do think they should have left their political ties behind - heck, it may have even benefited their power in the ASEAN community if they did this!

If you ask me, countries aka the state shouldn't be giving aid anyway - if people feel so strongly about helping others in a disaster zone (which is perfectly reasonable and noble) then they should donate themselves on an individual basis rather than asking governments to use the force of the law (taxation) to force citizens/subjects to donate to a charitable cause.

I haven't got a problem with countries using naval/army resources to deliever the help (above) as it's extra training for the armed forces. But yeah there's my two shillings.

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Originally Posted by Payasam

Indeed, however if you look at what the UN says it needs ($301,000,000) for this appeal, you would need 3010 countries to each give $100,000, however baring in mind the UN only recognises 193 countries as member states (or something around that mark?), this would mean they would end up over 15 times short of their target!

As I say, I don't think they had to donate anything at all, I just think looking at the context of the disaster, I do think they should have left their political ties behind - heck, it may have even benefited their power in the ASEAN community if they did this!

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I agree with you on all these points, we're just lucky that each country isn't donating $100,000 and usually a lot more :)

I think they forgot two 0's....

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China - which is engaged in a territorial dispute with the Philippines - is sending 10m yuan ($1.6m; £1m) in relief goods.

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Not just $100,000 anymore.

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Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

If you ask me, countries aka the state shouldn't be giving aid anyway - if people feel so strongly about helping others in a disaster zone (which is perfectly reasonable and noble) then they should donate themselves on an individual basis rather than asking governments to use the force of the law (taxation) to force citizens/subjects to donate to a charitable cause.

I haven't got a problem with countries using naval/army resources to deliever the help (above) as it's extra training for the armed forces. But yeah there's my two shillings.

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I think part of the issue is if the government announced it was stopping all foreign aid tomorrow, the public would NOT receive that money back in tax! The gift aid scheme in itself has its issues (40% tax payer still only gets 25% added to their donation!)

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Originally Posted by Kardan

Not just $100,000 anymore.

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A nice improvement - wonder if it was due to pressure from other states, or always planned. Either way it is good news :)

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Originally Posted by Kardan

So basically, you're both saying $100,000 = $0?

I'm sure the Philippines are grateful for any money they get and have a lot more to worry about right now then China trying to be awkward and making a point.

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$100k from like the second biggest economy in the world is a pathetic attempt, is what I'm saying. Because quite frankly it is.