In August 2009, Typhoon Morakot hit the island nation of Taiwan, bringing heavy downpours and triggering devastating mudslides. The official casualty toll now stands at 124 dead, 53 missing and 45 injured, but most experts expect the death toll to top 500.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States, bringing heavy winds and downpours, triggering devastating floods. The official casualty toll stands at 1,836 dead and 705 missing. Katrina was the most destructive and expensive hurricane in U.S. history.
In both countries, the response of the governments to the disaster was flawed.
How did the leaders of the two countries respond?
On August 18, 2009 Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou bowed to the nation to apologize and "accept responsibility as national leader" for all errors made during government rescue efforts in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.
As national leader, I must accept responsibility for all of the mistakes made by the government during disaster rescue work. At this time, I wish to express my deepest apology to all the people, especially to persons whose relatives died or disappeared.
President Ma joined the four most senior members of his administration--Vice President Vincent Siew, Vice Premier Chiu Cheng-hsiung, Defense Minister Chen Chao-ming and Transportation Minister Mao Chih-kuo--in a deep bow of apology for 30 seconds.
Katrina occurred during the administration of former President George W. Bush. How did he respond? On May 22, 2007, Bush addressed the nation at a news conference.
Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government. And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility.
The contrasts between the responses of the two presidents to a natural disaster on their watch are telling. President Ma accepted immediate responsibility and, flanked by the most senior officials of the government, apologized both verbally and ritually. But even by Asian standards of contrition, a group bow of 30 seconds is extraordinary. Try it. Imagine you are being televised. Now stand and bow your head for a count of 30 seconds. It feels like an eternity and packs quite a punch.
President Bush accepted full responsibility. The statement came 20 months after Katrina. Bush never apologized. In subsequent years, he continued to express deep regret about his administration's response but never did manage an apology.
My take is that what we have here is a difference in culture as well as temperament.
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