Airmen deliver humanitarian gear to China

[unhappycamper]

Winter storm help
$820,000 worth of coats, blankets.


Airmen deliver humanitarian gear to China
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 11, 2008 14:39:36 EST

BEIJING — An Air Force C-17 cargo plane and crew from Hawaii delivered thousands of jackets, blankets and boxed rations Friday to help victims of China’s worst winter storms in more than 50 years, the U.S. Pacific Command and the Chinese government Xinhua News Agency reported.

The supplies were handed over in Shanghai to the People’s Liberation Army, which forwarded them for distribution to parts of the country’s hard-hit eastern and central regions, Xinhua said.

Maj. Gen. Qian Lihua, head of foreign affairs for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said the transfer would “promote the friendship between the two peoples and the two armed forces.”

The U.S. military has promoted such exchanges to build confidence between their armed forces.

It also follows a period of tension over China’s refusal to allow port calls by U.S. Navy ships in Hong Kong in November, apparently due to Chinese anger over Washington’s arms sales to Taiwan and a decision by the U.S. Congress to grant its highest civilian award to Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/02/airforce_china_humanitarian_080211w/