I think language is the most significant barrier to stop foreign rescuers'access.It's much better to provide material supply and technical support instead of sending rescuers

Jingjing, Guangzhou, China

Rescue teams from Japan,HongKong and TaiWan are gathering in Beijing and ready to start out soon.They are not allowed to into Sichuan in early days just because of safefy problems.The Chinese goverment is doing the best to save lives.Premier Wen is really great and worth the highest respect!

wangyun, Beijing, China

Kun Huo, your donation can get to work immediately. The Chinese Red Cross Society is coordinating relief efforts. I have witnessed thousands of volunteers working very hard in the city to collect, sort, repack and ship donations of food, medicine, water, clothing, bedding etc. to the affected areas.

Hao Min, Chengdu, China

Rescue teams from Japan,HongKong and TaiWan are gathering in Beijing and ready to start out soon.They are not allowed to into Sichuan in early days just because of safefy problems.The Chinese goverment is doing the best to save lives.Premier Wen is really great and worth the highest respect!

wangyun, Beijing, China

So the American Government is going to give $500,000. How mean is that?

Les H, Zhangzhou, China

Ok I understand that Chinese government has the human resources for rescue project and a few foreign aid workers are not going to make a huge difference plus it being dangerous. But they need vast amount of food and shelter which Red Cross can bring in. I want to my donation to get to work.

Kun Huo, Cambridge, Canada

I'm Chinese myself and I'm glad to see people are aware that certain bias exits. However, the government really should accept foreign rescue, especially specialists from Taiwan and Japan. It has been 72 hours and we need all we can get to save the people out there.

mis bai, Beijing , China

I think many people all of the world are caring for the people in diaster area, we never give up any life in disaster, we are all with them. Yes, I'm chinese, I'm also proud of my country.

Hana, Zhengzhou, China

This foreign senior aid worker's comment shows that he is very arrogant, has no basic knowledge about size of the disaster in Sichuan. It is very likely he will be end up to be rescued by chinese people there. He cannot speak one words in Sichuan dialect.

Don, london, uk

Exemplary. Yes. I'd expect nothing less.

The country is almost "used" to natural disasters. Back in the 1990s, there was a major flood almost every summer.

As for the soldiers, I should think their performance have been "a bit" better than the American soldiers when Katrina struck.

ed, london,

The vicious title of this article only tries to grab readers' eyeballs, while it also reveals the always biased views against China.

Nick, Qingdao, China

What difference is 10-20 aid workers going to make when 60,000 Chinese soldiers and relief teams have been mobilised? Thats not to mention the doctors and nurses.

There is a time and place, and this isn't the time for foreign aid workers to be complaining about not being let in.

Pete, Cov,

The Chinese government responded very quickly to this unexpected disaster. Our Prime Minister is in Sichuan now. Ordinary Chinese people are able to know the lastest news from TV news. People are donating money and blood verywhere in big cities and universities. People are very united.

Bolin Li, Beijing, China

Maybe there are misunderstanding, the Chinese governor don't allow the foreign aid terms to come to Sichuan because the area is not safe.18 quakes had been monitored since the devastating earthquake.It could happen at any time. The situation is not good. We don't wanna foreign friends are in danger.

Steven, Qingdao, China

I want to say the rescue efforts mounted so quickly & efficiently by the Chinese, has been impressive.

I can see imported help would in fact delay some of their work, they would have to be instructed ferried to the earthquake zones & as has been pointed out would not speak the language.

maggie millington, brittany, france

500,000 dollars for a 7.9 earthquake? Stingy Americans.....

Robert Elder, Melbourne , Australia

Please don't be hypocritical. The government really means it when they say that the conditions are dangerous. Just look at the photos of the place. They are doing it out of concern, not of fear.

The Chinese government has truly been exemplary this time.

Henry Yin, Cambridge, MA, USA

If the Chinese Communists do not want aid workers then so be it. In the end they wil have no one to blame but themselves. There are plenty of other places on Earth where the aid workes will be welcomed with open arms.

Cuban Pete, Washington, DC, USA

Because China has a billion people they can throw at this therefore foreign teams aren't needed is ridiculous.There were people being found a week after hurricane Katrina. To delay accepting foreign teams because of safety only kills more Chinese and speaks to the hubiris of their government.

Allen, Seattle, USA

It's true that we have great difficulties in transportations of rescuing people and machines and only part of liberartion army have find way into the stricken area. so I think it is reasonable to decline the interantional rescue temporarily considering the feasibility of rescue and safety of aid

Vivian, Beijing, China

2008 is a difficult year for China. We Chinese should unite and work together to fight against the disaster.

Tina, Jinhua, China

It is really difficult to reach the disaster-hit areas. Even for Chinese aid workers. My colleagues are there right now. The are stopped by the travel condition. We all are in big sadness for this misery. I am sure we would like to have foreign aid workers to help us, we need it indeed.

Lili, Kunming, China

One thing China has in abundance is manpower. The personnel supplied by aid agencies would be a drop in the ocean compared with what is already available within the massive country with its army and other rescue people. And they all speak Chinese.

There is no comparison with Burma/Myanmar.

Filey, Scarborough, UK

The government also considers safety of foreign aid workers.

Tony, BEIJING, China

The best rescue time is 48 hours after earthquake happened. Considering the time that has already passed, there is no way for any international rescue team to get there in time. Plus all roads were cut off and the weather condition doesn't allow helicopters in.

Antony, Arizona, USA

I think our goverment consider there is communicate diffcult between foreign acid workers and people in WENCHUN county.
And it is truth that the transportation in affected areas is obstructed.
People trust Liberation Army troops when they met the natural disaster.
pray for the people in SICHUAN!

lisa, yongkang,

it is obviously that this report cannot give a complete fact to its readers, there is so much personal opinion in it.

echo, Beijing, China

I'm Chinese,i'm proud of my country!

shu chuan, shanghai, China

I must object to the statement that Mr Wang's comments echo those of Myanmar.Myanmar denied access because the Generals don't wish to weaken their grip on power.China has the experience and resources to handle the situation itself. Government response has been swift,unlike FEMA's in the U.S in 2005

Usher (UK Expat), Kunming, PR China

I think it's understandable for the government to refuse foreign workers. First is the transport problem and second is communications. I'm from Chengdu and I know how difficult it is for the Chinese rescue team. Plus no one in the areas can speak English.

Clare, London,