The People's Daily

Chinese people understand hardships Japan experiences now

Japan's massive earthquake on March 11 and ensuing tsunami that slammed into its northeast coast as well as the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, a commercial and industrial port city in Kyushu have triggered alarms bells in China; media reports coming in swarms have filled people in the country with gnawing anxiety and worries.

At this tragic moment, all people in China, which is separated from Japan only with a narrow strip of water, from President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to ordinary citizens at the grassroots level, have pledged to an emergency aid to their close neighbour. No words could express what in the innermost feelings at our hearts except for a vivid, heartfelt expression the Chinese premier told a press conference at the Great Hall of the people in Beijing on Monday.

President Hu Jintao on Monday offered condolences to Japanese Emperor Akihito over the massive quake that hit Northeast Japan on March 11 and pledged further help.

In a message, President Hu mourned the dead and extended condolences to Emperor Akihito. The Chinese government and people stand ready to offer necessary help, he said.

Meanwhile, at a press conference after the closing meeting of the 4th Session of the 11th Nation People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People on the same day, Premier Wen Jiabao again expressed condolences to the quake-jolt Japan and said China is willing to offer more help to Japan if needed.

"I would like to offer my deep condolences to the Japanese people.... China is also an earthquake-prone country, so we understand the hardship that Japan experiences now," Wen told the press conference.

China's rescued and relief supplies arrived in Japan on Sunday, Chinese rescuers are busy exerting their utmost to rescue quake survivors. and China is also ready to offer more help in case of need, Wen said.

We are heartbroken and our mood is extremely painful, and "we understand the hardships that Japan is now experiencing or undergoing." According to the latest statistics up to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17 released by the Japanese Police Hall, the deaths of 5,457 people was now confirmed from the 9.0 magnitude quake and those missing reached 9,508, and both figures have added to 14,965. Looking at these statistics on rise daily, we expressed our most profound condolences to all quake victims and extend our sincere, heartfelt sympathy to all Japanese nationals.

Since the devastating quake took place on March 11, the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant has found itself in a constant dangerous situation. To date, explosion has taken place in four of the six generating units at the power plants and the containment shell of the N0.3 reactor has been broken, and the nuclear pollution is filling into the air.

Can the Fukushima Island been turned into the version of Chernobyl today? The nuclear crisis at Fukushima has pulled strings on the global nerve. At this critical juncture, however, we are pleased to see the last group of 50 Japanese workers are replenishing water into the cooling pool of the Unit 3 reactor, and white smog or steam could be seen rising over the quake-hit site. So, we salute to all those Japanese nationals who defy death at "their own risk" in an endeavor to avert Japan from a nuclear catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the people in China will never forget that it is precisely the Japanese government and people who provided to victims in China's disaster area when the Wenchuan quake occurred in Sichuan and adjacent regions in May 2008. Today, it is the turn of the Chinese government and people to lend a helping hand without any hesitation to Japan's disaster-ridden area: A 15-member rescue team is now hard at work after its arrival in Japan on Sunday, and large quantities of relief supplies were shipped to Japan, including 20,000 tons of gasoline and diesel oil.

Premier Wen said the Chinese people will continue to provide the essential help in accordance with Japan's needs. In view of China's rescue operation this time, we come to see what is China's genuine national spirit and broadmindedness.

As a matter of fact, the Chinese nation has always confided in the belief that "charity to the distressed is absolute the rite or etiquette, and one carries such noble ideals will have the luck or happiness," noted the Annals of Zuo, or the chronicle of Zuo, which is the earliest Chinese work of narrative history and covers the period 722 BC -468 BC.

At the time of tragedy in Japan, Chinese scholars and professors appeal for aid assistance to Japan: The Chinese and Japanese nations have forged the profound, traditional ties of amity for more than 2,000 years and only wars of colonialism of the modern times left immense pains on both nations. Related issues left in history have created frictions between the two great nations, and in order to overcome the "fatalistic difficulties" or problems in the course of expanding national wisdom, we need to carry forward our benevolence, kindheartedness, "intuitive knowledge and innate ability". Both countries have got their grassroots citizens, intellectuals and statesmen alike working very hard to this lofty goal.

Chinese people have a true "heart of gold", and ordinary citizens in China adore most the thousand-hand goddess of Mercy. When others are in trouble, they often say, we will reach out our hands one thousand times to come to their aid and, when we ourselves are in emergency need, we will, too, have one thousand hands in our favor.

We should respect life in the name of life, just as a young Taiwan singer, Lin Youjia's ensuing vivid lines depict: ".... If that's me, I could have the feeling of being more forsaken or abandoned. So, I very much want to say, every one is similar or identical on earth. Humans in fresh and blood should be treated as equals before the pain and joy. The pulse of the world resembles yours and mine, and let's touch our heartbeats attentively, and it's you and me."

By People's Daily Online and its author is Ye Xiaowen, a People's Daily guest commentator, member of the Chinese side of the China-Japan friendship committee for the 21st Century and the first vice-president of the Central Institute of Socialism in Beijing