Typhoon Haiyan and the Geopolitics of Disaster Relief

Powerful Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, leaving perhaps 10,000 dead and a path of devastation. Like it or not, post-typhoon disaster relief for the Philippines involves both good-faith compassion and strategic calculations in an ongoing battle for influence, explains Rory Medcalf writing for the Interpreter, published by the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia. Australia is giving $10 million for relief, and the US Pacific Command has dispatched an aircraft carrier and forces. Rapid response after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by the US, Japan, India and Australia had “real geopolitical effects” and “advanced military cooperation, trust and dialogue among those four powers,” Medcalf explains. China’s military has developed since 2004 and could step up aid, too: “What Beijing does next will be an important sign of how sensible, capable and magnanimous a power Xi Jinping’s China is going to be when it comes to regional diplomacy.” Medcalf suggests the next few weeks will be a test for China, Asean and others to demonstrate cooperation and leadership on disaster relief – and perhaps on looming global challenges like climate change. – YaleGlobal