Pupils from a Tianjin primary school are crammed into a school bus adapted from a minivan on November 21. Photo: IC

Latest news that the Chinese government will grant about 50 million yuan ($7.9 million) to help Cambodia build one of its government buildings has raised controversy in China over foreign aid.

China agreed to assist the Cambodian Senate build its office at a cost of 48.46 million yuan, and assist with office installations worth 1 million yuan, according to a contract signed at a ceremony for the aid project held in Phnom Penh between Cambodian Senate leaders and Chinese Ambassador Pan Guangxue on November 29, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The news resulted in much public outcry online, calling for the government to put domestic troubles ahead of international responsibility.

"While scores of school kids in Xinjiang suffer through the bitter cold without enough winter clothing, the central government makes this generous donation. After reading these two stories this morning, I felt speechless," a Sina microblog user named "Mingmingyue" said in an entry.

Continuing controversy

The outrage added to the widespread controversy triggered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' recent donation of 23 Chinese-made school buses to Macedonia on November 25.

The bus handover came on the heels of a school bus accident in Gansu Province that claimed the lives of 19 children. On November 16, the nine-seat minivan overloaded with 64 kindergarten kids crashed into a truck carrying coal.

The ministry's donation angered many Web users, some of whom even called on the public to telephone the European country's government and demand the return of the buses.

"The donation might be a little untimely, but the donation itself is not wrong. The complaints and criticism mainly come from narrow patriotism and poor understanding of foreign aid," Wang Zhenyao, president of the One Foundation Research Institute at Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Criticism is understandable, since the Chinese people lived in an enclosed society for a long period and lack charity experience. Besides, many people still live in poverty," he said, urging people to be more open-minded.

Charity should surpass national boundaries, contradictions and hostility, and even poverty should not bar humanitarianism, Wang noted.

International responsibility

Facing mounting rebukes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on November 28.

"Since China's reform and opening up, it has received lots of international aid in various fields like poverty relief, environmental development, medical care and technology. As the country develops, we also offer assistance to others. The aid amount is limited, but it displays our commitment to our international responsibility," ministry spokesman Hong Lei remarked at a press conference.

The ministry also explained one day later on its official Sina Weibo that Macedonia deserves the donation. It cited that the country, with a population of only 2 million and an area of 25,000 square kilometers, donated 350,000 yuan to victims of the massive Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

"As a big country, China should not be absent of responsibilities and obligations due to poverty," the ministry said in a statement.

However, the explanation failed to quell the outrage.

"I know it's ethical to help others, but charity should not be blind. Some countries may continue to find fault in you even if you do them lots of favors. In addition, there are still many people at home who are starving or homeless," Zhao Junqi, 42, a taxi driver in Beijing, told the Global Times.

"40 years ago, our country aided countries like Albania, Vietnam and Cambodia. What happened next? As soon as their leaders changed, they immediately turned their backs on us," Han Qiaosheng,  a famous sports anchor with China Central Television, wrote in his Weibo account.

Business necessity

Foreign aid is part of diplomatic strategy and carries with it more meaning than just being charitable, said Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations with China Foreign Affairs University.

"Countries always provide aid and assistance to other nations to establish, maintain and strengthen foreign relations. Western countries like the US have taken much more money in foreign aid than China," Li told the Global Times on Saturday.

According to the White Paper of China's Foreign Aid issued by the State Council Information Office in April, by the end of 2009, China had provided a total of 256.29 billion yuan in aid to foreign countries.

"It's common and proper practice for any entity to make contributions wherever it runs a business," Wang said. "You earn money from them and fulfill your social responsibly in return, then obtain more faithful customers, generating a virtuous circle."

So is it the case for China, Wang said.

"When a country offers aid to another in the form of money, equipment and expertise, it brings with it large sales of its products. This not only promotes its domestic industry but also expands the country's international influence," he said.

At the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held on November 30 in Busan, South Korea, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged developing nations to be "smart shoppers" on foreign aid, warning that donors may be more interested in exploiting natural resources than promoting real development.

Reuters said Clinton's remarks appeared to be clearly aimed at China, claiming much of Beijing's foreign aid remains opaque.

"It's unnecessary to be concerned about such slander. The US itself lacks transparency in its  diplomatic strategy," Li said.

"While making more efforts to crack down on corruption, improve justice, and reduce wealth gaps, our officials should broaden their horizons and increase sensitivity to domestic issues as well as diplomatic ones," Li suggested.