Come, see the spirit of modern China

Together with a general surge of patriotism among the Chinese people, the massive rescue operation in the aftermaths of the Sichuan earthquake earned the country grudging respect worldwide.

In a recent UN briefing in Geneva, a Western journalist who wanted to pick bones on China's handling of the international media during the calamity was bluntly told to shut up by the UN official, who, by the way, was not a Chinese. As the world can see, international journalists are free to roam the disaster areas and file their reports and images. We have nothing to hide. To the Chinese leadership, saving lives and minimizing hardship have a much higher priority.

The emergency program is activated within minutes after the 8 degree earthquake on the Richter Scale breaks out at 14:28 of May 12, and Premier Wen Jiabao is airborne to ground zero one and a half hours later. He stays on the frontline for three days, holding meetings, giving directions and rushing from one disaster area to another amidst aftershocks and landslides, listening and talking directly to the people.