Ten days after a massive earthquake toppled buildings, schools and chemical plants in China, a Cuban medical team arrived in Sichuan to assist the province’s rescue and relief efforts. The team of 35 Cuban doctors included surgeons, orthopedists and other specialists. (People’s Daily Online, May 24)
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Cuba, which benefits from a planned economy, is frequently hit by hurricanes enduring little to no casualties. The island’s central planning includes sophisticated early warning and evacuation procedures as well as relief assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters. With much experience under their belts, the Cuban government has sent the team to help a Chinese population in dire need.
José Rodriguez, surgeon and team director, said the Cuban staffers are working in two wards of the 2,300-bed hospital entirely devoted to aid quake victims. (Prensa Latina, May 26)
On May 24th, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao thanked the medical staff from Cuba for the assistance in China’s earthquake relief. “On behalf the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the people, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you,” Wen said while visiting the Cuban medical team in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province. (Xinhua, May 24)
The foreign policy of the Cuban revolutionary government is guided by the principles of internationalist solidarity. Their involvement in relief efforts across the globe—notably in Peru following a massive 2007 earthquake and in Southeast Asia after the 2004 tsunami—shows that the Cuban government prioritizes not only its own people, but also their sisters and brothers around the world.
Imperialist countries, bound by the profit motive, cannot match such deeds. U.S. “relief assistance” is invariably a product of political calculations and interventionist machinations. Washington’s recent attempts to politicize the Myanmar cyclone disaster laid bare its imperialist agenda.
Despite a shortage of vital equipment, China has conducted an impressive mobilization in response to the massive earthquake. With the help of Cuba and other nations that have stepped forward in this time of great grief and need, China will rebuild the affected areas and continue to provide assistance to its people.
