Japan has accepted assistance from a number of its neighbors, including those with whom it has rockier relations. China has pledged the most so far. The Chinese government on Monday announced $4.6 million in disaster relief funding, which comes on top of almost $1 million offered by the Red Cross Society of China, Xinhua reports. China has also sent 15 search and rescue workers into the country, who are working in the same area as the US teams, according to the United Nations.
Meanwhile, South Korea has sent 105 search-and-rescue personnel, Taiwan has sent 30, and Singapore has sent five. South Korea and Taiwan’s workers are in Sendai City, the closest major city to the epicenter, while Singapore’s are operating in Fukushima, southwest of Sendai and the site of one of the nuclear reactors not functioning properly.
The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional economic and geopolitical bloc that excludes China, has also offered whatever assistance Japan needs. Mongolia and Sri Lanka have together offered $1 million in funds.
