Today is the fourth day since the Ya'an earthquake in Sichuan Province. The first 72 hours after the earthquake, seen as the most crucial period in terms of rescue efforts, ended this morning. But we believe the search for lives will not end and we expect more lives to be saved.

It has been proven that each major disaster is a test for China's logistical capabilities. It also pushes the development of society. China is a big country, so it can provide large-scale assistance when it comes to relief work. That being said, there are many different voices with different views about delivering relief efforts.

Nothing is more important than human life and rescuing lives is the priority when a disaster occurs. This is accepted among the public and represents a victory for humanism in China.

However, disaster relief efforts are a complex endeavor. Whilst we demand that lives must be the absolute priority, relief efforts cannot solely focus on saving lives. Logistical problems must also be considered.

While it is time for officials and the public to unite during the relief efforts, there are opposing voices. Officials urged members of the public not to visit the disaster-stricken areas. If the public's awareness of the realities of disaster management was more developed, these calls wouldn't have been necessary. Some members of the public have also been calling for enhanced roles in order to allow them to better assist in these kinds of emergencies.

In the streets of Ya'an, volunteers were ready to donate blood. Rescuers and reporters from across the country were also waiting to contribute.

Some people began to compare which group was more sincere in their desire to save others, which is nothing short of embarrassing.

There have also been examples of skepticism directed toward the motives of those engaged in relief work.

Those who have been to disaster scenes know that in these situations, saving lives is the only aim.

However, in modern society, there are more and more people who pay particular attention to their political image, but this isn't unique to China. The establishment of a humanistic society involves much more than discussion of concepts. Deeds matter.

Doubt has been cast on some prominent examples of relief efforts. Some systems of ethical behavior have received public scrutiny. All of this doubt and these contrasting voices are likely to make people feel confused.

These debates make us see the indecent aspects of Chinese society. Even a good thing may not seem as good as it ought to be. Even so, we are able to realize that China is developing. Critics would argue over whether this progress is worth our pride. Chinese leaders should take such words as advice from the public. But in terms of the public response, we can answer such relentless negativity with sarcastic rebuttal.

For a country that has experienced many disasters, social unity and disaster relief capabilities are crucial assets. They shouldn't be compromised by overly critical voices.