Spotlight: Overseas media lauds China's response to ship mishap

Since the June 1 cruise ship tragedy on China's Yangtze River, foreign media have spoken highly of the country's swift and effective reaction to the historically rare mishap.

The Eastern Star cruise ship with 456 people onboard was on an 11-day trip along the Yangtze River when it was overturned by a tornado on June 1 in Jianli. The death toll has risen to 434.

CHINA ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE, MAKES ALL-OUT RESCUE EFFORTS

"We can see clearly the enormous strides the country has made in managing emergencies and sudden tragedies. The Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, was on the scene within 24 hours. A large-scale rescue effort was quickly organized. And the tragedy was covered in the official media," the U.S. media Fortune said in an article posted on its website on June 3.

"Chinese authorities have been quick to take action, putting their emphasis on efforts to save possible survivors. President Xi Jinping has ordered all out rescue efforts... Premier Li Keqiang traveled to the site of the accident," said the Voice of America (VOA).

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gave instructions on search and rescue work in heavy rain on the site of overturned ship "Eastern Star" in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province, the website of Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Premier Li instructed the soldiers to overcome difficulties to rescue the people. Many of the soldiers' tents were filled with muddy water as it was raining heavily, said the newspaper.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and other senior officials arrived Tuesday (June 2) at the site of the disaster to oversee the large-scale emergency response, CNN reported on June 2.

"To help with the rescue effort, authorities reduced the amount of water being discharged from the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric plant, which is upstream from the sunken ship," the TV network quoted Chinese state media as saying.

More than 4,000 people and 110 vessels have taken part in the search and rescue, Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantang was quoted as saying. He added that divers have been called in from all around the country.

A report published on June 3 by Spain's El Pais newspaper said that "with the time passed, hopes to find more passengers decreased, though Chinese Transport Minister Yang Chuantang said that as long as there is a gleam of hope, China will not give up."

As a sign of openness, the Chinese government allowed a handful of reporters to visit the scene of rescue efforts Wednesday (June 3) on the Yangtze River, where the ship with 456 passengers and crew overturned during a violent storm on Monday (June 1) night, noted New York Times on June 4.

CONSOLING BEREAVED FAMILIES, CONDUCTING SERIOUS INVESTIGATION

The Chinese people are all "united in wishing for the safe and speedy recovery of the hundreds still missing. Countless social media users have shared images of hands clasped in prayer... They (the victims) left from a good spot. But natural disasters can't be controlled," the U.S. journal Foreign Policy said on June 2.

"The biggest nautical tragedy in China in nearly seven decades has transformed this largely agriculture-based city (Jianli) of 155,000 from a sleepy backwater into a hub of hectic activity. More than 1,200 relatives and friends of the Eastern Star's passengers have arrived in the city in Hubei Province, along with thousands of rescue workers, troops, volunteers and rubberneckers," the Wall Street Journal said in an article.

Many residents and businesses are offering meals and beds to the bereaved after the city's hotels filled up. Some motorists have tied yellow ribbons to their side-view mirrors, signaling that those looking for loved ones are welcome to hitch a ride. Surrounding cities have sent funeral personnel and vehicles, it reported.

"The government and people in Jianli have treated us very well, providing free lodging and food," it quoted Chen Suhua, a 73-year-old retiree as saying. Chen came from the city of Nanjing to seek news about her missing husband, who was traveling alone on the ship.

Reuters reported that Chinese officials, rescuers and family members gathered in mourning on Sunday for those lost on the cruise ship after the four-storey ship was righted and raised on Friday, allowing rescuers onto to it to clear away debris, break down cabin doors and look for bodies.

The river is being swept to as far away as Shanghai looking for the missing, while DNA tests are being carried out to identify the bodies, said the report.

"Sunday marks seven days since the Eastern Star went down, and according to Chinese tradition this is a key date on which to mourn the dead... Rescue workers and government officials standing on a barge facing the battered boat, removing their hats and bowing their heads, as surrounding boats sounded their horns," wrote Reuters.

The government "is doing everything possible to help the relatives, including providing free accommodation and medical services, and Vice Premier Ma Kai has been dispatched to meet family members personally," it noted, adding that some victims' relatives, speaking to foreign reporters, praised the government's efforts.

"It made me feel incredibly warm. When he shook my hand and said a few words to me, told us to keep on going...He was so genial, like my own father," Wang Hua, 42, who lost both parents on the ship, told Reuters of her meeting with Ma.

The company which operated the ship has apologized for the

disaster and said it would "fully" cooperate with the investigation. Beijing has pledged there would be "no cover-up," while police have detained the captain and chief engineer for questioning as part of the investigation, said Reuters, adding that an initial probe found the ship was not overloaded and had enough life vests on board during the worst shipping catastrophe of China in seven decades.

The government has promised that the treatment of the victims' families would be meticulous and that authorities would work to "satisfy their reasonable demands, and provide all conveniences to them," said Reuters.

In a sign of respect for the victims, China's state television suspended certain programs and advertisements that highlight celebrations for three days, it said.

Japan's public broadcaster NHK said that local authorities on Sunday held a memorial ceremony for the victims of the capsized passenger vessel, with rescuers standing in three-minute silent tribute.

Japan's Kyodo News said that "China on Sunday mourned the loss of over 400 people after workers finished removing bodies from the interior of the passenger ship."

"As a light rain fell, rescuers, many in white hazmat suits, and government officials gathered in sight of the battered blue and white vessel to observe three minutes of silence for the dead," it said.

Following the ceremony, workers went back to gathering and sorting the personal effects of the deceased in preparation to return them to their families, it said, adding that "authorities have begun the process of taking DNA samples from the bodies to help with identification." Endi