Three hours after the Boston bombing, news websites and TV channels are streaming live news – there is no ban on news reporting. Local police held a press conference immediately – quick reaction plus transparent information and thus there is no rumor or panic. Google released Person Finder; the public offered help for those runners who are from outside of Boston or the country; thousands of people left their contact information. In the face of a severe situation, the government, the media, companies and individuals all work together smoothly. It’s something we ought to learn.
Some Weibo users suggested that a similar attack would have been far more difficult to carry out in major Chinese cities, where police surveillance is famously rigorous. One argued that, even if someone did succeed in setting off bombs in China, “With no immediate press conference and all information blocked, the terrorists would have no proof that they indeed attacked. There will be no impact at all.”
Though few users seemed to disagree that the Chinese government’s initial response to such an attack would be secrecy, many argued that this would actually hurt the country’s ability to respond and address the needs of victims. Here is a much-cited Weibo comment arguing how China would respond to a Boston-style attack in one of its own cities: