China moves quickly to deal with quake

Dr. Maurice Ramirez, a founding chair of the American Board of Disaster Medicine, said the two disasters provide clear contrasts in what should and should not be done.

"Speed is absolutely critical in a situation like this. China has done the very opposite of Myanmar. It has dumped every asset into the area. Their initial response is very good," Ramirez said.

Unlike Myanmar, China also has expressed willingness to accept foreign offers for aid from the United States, Germany, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, and South Korea.

"In Myanmar, they chose to not only refuse to reach out but they shunned offers of assistance and they have slowed the influx of aid that did come," said Ramirez.

Although China's communist regime is often criticized, it bears little resemblance to the xenophobic and paranoid generals who wield total control in Myanmar. Despite the massive death toll, the junta forged ahead with a constitutional referendum.