The world was shocked March 28 when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar and Thailand, killing over 3,000 people and displacing thousands. The usual global responders, such as India, Russia and the United Kingdom, rushed in to help. 

Most shockingly, China wasted no time, sending over medical teams, personnel and 13.76 million dollars in aid —  and the United States? A stagnant 2 million dollar pledge and a three-person search and rescue team that couldn’t even get visas in time to be useful. 

Americans and the world itself are shocked by our lack of response. In past disasters, we were the leaders in relief efforts, yet now we are twiddling our thumbs while China strengthens its hold in regions that have previously worked with American leadership. It’s not just an embarrassment — it’s a glaring sign of how far America has fallen in global humanitarian efforts. 

“Why,” people ask? Because our government has slashed international aid funding and deprioritized disaster response as a whole. With cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and the administration more focused on political popularity than actual leadership, the U.S. has been left ineffective when crises strike. Thus, Washington sits on their hands while Beijing takes action. 

The world notices when we stop showing up. When America steps back, someone else steps forward. If this administration cares at all about maintaining our global influence or, more importantly, saving innocent human lives, this disregard for life is a wake-up call that the government must rethink its current stance.