Searching for MH370 sadly politicized by competition

A recent New York Times article points fingers at China's naval incompetence and mishandling of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 rescue clues, implying China has been hampering the whole search process.  [Special coverage]

Since the disappearance of MH370 on March 8 with 239 people on board including 154 Chinese, the Chinese side has spared no efforts with its counterparts from other countries in the search and rescue work. China's response was to deploy a combined flotilla of military and civilian ships, a greater commitment than the Americans, as calculated by the Associated Press. According to the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center, Chinese vessels have covered 646,000 square kilometers of the southern Indian Ocean. Some 65 merchant ships have been mobilized. The Chinese leadership has also urged emergency measures over the missing flight.

However, in the eyes of the New York Times, all China's efforts are merely to "demonstrate its determination and technological abilities to its domestic audience," when the search for the vital black box reached a critical juncture.

Criticizing China has become politically expedient for the mainstream Western media. The New York Times is shifting the world's attention and doubt over the fruitless search to China, while the search by the US and its allies has led nowhere.

As the search drags on, the whole event is not only about the missing plane but also the politics. At first, the efforts of all countries involved showed the responsibility their governments undertook for their people and their technological and military strength. Meanwhile, the search work is seen by some as a silent war among all participants who compete with each other in military strength and technological means.

The search for the plane has proved a tough and arduous task and exposed some Chinese insufficiences in this regard. For example, the US Navy contributed a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, while a high-performance maritime patrol aircraft is a weak spot for China. China will improve on this if the effort is not to be interpreted as military expansion.

When no remarkable search results have been achieved by all parties concerned, the denouncement of China by Western media is irresponsible and does not help. The New York Times' rash tactics have irritated the Chinese public. A heart-wrenching search, that requires concerted efforts and cooperation, is sadly becoming a politicized event.