It is good to see that the Chinese government accepting now even American military aid to help in the rescue and relief operations in the wake of Monday’s earthquake:

TWO US military planes carrying aid flew today into southwestern China, the first time Beijing has accepted help from foreign troops since the earthquake struck, officials said.

The C-17 aircraft carrying food, electricity generators, blankets and other goods flew into Chengdu, the capital of worst-hit Sichuan province.

One arrived in the morning and a second was expected to arrive in the early afternoon, said Susan Stevenson, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Beijing. The planes came from Hawaii and the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of the US Pacific Command, said the US troops offer “our sincere condolences” to the Chinese people.

“We will continue to provide any assistance we can to minimise their suffering and loss of life,” he said. [AFP]