The swiftness and efficiency the Chinese government has demonstrated in the rescue work following the devastating Sichuan earthquake in May has amazed the world and prompted various explanations.

Some attribute it to China's recognition of the "universal values" of respecting life, which is seen as a "gratifying result" of China "gearing to international standards" in the past 30 years.

But many netizens challenge the attribution with the question: Did the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese government, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) not "respect life" before China was "geared to international standards"?