Red Cross society has to bear its cross

Many people are wondering what direction the Red Cross Society of China will take in the post-Zhao Baige era. Will the ongoing internal reforms continue and will it take measures to handle humanitarian tasks more efficiently to regain people's trust? The answer: it has no choice but to do so.

Zhao resigned as the society's presiding executive on Sept 2. She had taken over the reins at the RCSC three years ago in the wake of the biggest public relations crisis faced by the State-run semi-official charity.

In 2011, Guo Meimei, a young woman claiming to head an organization under the RCSC, posted photographs of her luxury collections on the Internet. The arrogant flaunting of wealth by Guo triggered a public outcry, with people asking whether donations to the RCSC were being misused.