Rescue and relief efforts are still underway in the Philippines where Typhoon Haiyan left more than 3,600 dead in its wake. North of the region in China, Communist Party government officials have elected to abolish the country’s controversial one child policy in light of a rapidly aging population. Finally, in a tense press conference on Thursday, President Obama announced a major change to his original health care plan while admitting that his administration had not covered all the necessary bases before carrying out Obamacare’s initiatives.
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International Community Steps Up Typhoon Haiyan Aid and Relief Efforts
A week after Typhoon Haiyan roared onto the Philippine coast, international relief agencies and foreign governments are still caught in a difficult battle to deliver aid to survivors on the ground. Countries like the U.S. and NGOs have stepped up their aid efforts while others, particularly China, have been criticized for their “measly” contributions.
Beginning this week, the U.S. government sent in Blackhawk helicopters to distribute food, medical supplies and more survival needs to coastal towns rattled by the storm. The U.K. also sent the HMS Illustrious helicopter carrier to the scene while India officially joined in with its plan to distribute relief packages. On Saturday, a large influx of food
Despite the upsurge in aid initiatives, the Chinese government remains heavily under fire for its seemingly “paltry” efforts. China originally provided $100,000 in aid, which was later stepped up to $1.6 million following an international outcry over the small sum. Critics have pointed out, however, that the new donation is still less than that of Swedish furniture company Ikea, illustrating how little the Chinese government has contributed in relative to other countries, agencies and businesses.
Approximately 4,000 deaths have been confirmed in the Philippines so far, a number that will surely rise as rescuers uncover more missing bodies. The typhoon also made landfall in Vietnam and China, though both countries were spared any substantial damage as the storm had weakened.
China to Ease One-Child Policy and Abolish Re-Education Through Labor Camps
The Chinese government introduced a set of 60 reform initiatives on Friday that included a call to relax the country’s one-child party and dismantle Communist-era labor camps.
China’s one-child policy was originally introduced to mitigate the possible effects of a rapidly growing population on the country’s natural and government resources, but concerns over an aging population long prompted officials and experts to consider easing the government mandate. In rural areas, many couples have more than two children and the government has allowed couples who are both only children to have two.
The reforms also include abolishing the government’s re-education through labor camps, a key component of Mao’s Communist era that sought to instill peasant values. Many current government officials went through the labor camps on their way to becoming Communist Party officials, though thousands of political dissidents are currently imprisoned in the same camps.
While more specific information about these reforms have not been released, there are also talks about letting the private sector play an even larger role in China’s economic development. Experts are waiting to see what effects these changes will have on Chinese society and how the country interacts on the world stage.
Obama Announces New Health Insurance Policy Change
In a harrowing White House press conference on Thursday, President Obama announced a change to his proposed health care plan that addressed public concern over insurance cancellations.
The change stated that insurance companies could continue selling health insurance plans that did not meet the minimum requirements for a year. Individuals and businesses could also choose to retain their current insurance coverage plans instead of taking up those recommended by the President.
Following the announcement came a discussion of Obama’s health care plans and its major downfalls, during which Obama took full responsibility for many of its mishaps. This included admitting that his administration failed to consider the difficulties of selling health insurance online as HealthCare.Gov continues to undergo repairs.