Disclaimer
This report was compiled by an ADRC visiting researcher (VR) from ADRC
member countries.
The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of
the ADRC. The boundaries and names shown and the designations usedon the maps in the report also do not imply official endorsement or
acceptance by the ADRC.

Country report
1. General information of China
1.1 Geographical data
People's Republic of China is located in the eastern part of the continent of Asia, the PacificWest Coast. Its land area is about 9.6 million square kilometers, is the third largest country
in the world, second only to Russia and Canada.
The western part of China is higher than the eastern part of China. The mountains, plateaus
and hills cover about 67% of the total land area, whereas the basins and plains make upnear to 33% of the total land area. In the west is the highest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which
stands more than 4,000 meters above the sea level and has been renowned as the “roof of
the world”. The Qomolangma Mount, 8,844.43 meters high, is the world’s highest peak.
China has 4 municipalities directly under the central government, 23 provinces, 5autonomous regions and 2 special administrative regions.

Figure1: Administrative divisions of the china

Figure2: the terrain of China

1.2 Climate information
In general, the eastern part of China has more precipitation than the western part of China.
The southeast coast up to 1500 mm above, only 200 mm inland northwest. Generally
speaking, the south is warmer than the north. The temperature varied greatly from south of
China to north of China and the greatest difference is up to approx 50 degree centigrade.

Figure3: the precipitation of China

1.3 Demographic data
China is the most populous country in the world. April 28, 2011, the National Bureau of
Statistics released the sixth national census data show that the country's total population of
1.3 billion people.
Index

2010population(million)

Proportion

The country's population

1328.02100%

population

606.6746%

Rural population

721.3554%

Among country: male

683.5752%

Female644.4549%

Among country: age 0-14

251.6619%

age 15-59

916.4769%

age more than 60

159.8912%

Amongcountry:

the

urban

Figure4: the population of China

2. Natural Hazards in China
2.1 Natural Hazards likely to affect the Country(features, tendency)
China is one of the countries in the world that suffers from the most serious natural disasters
due to its vast territory, complicated climatic, geographical and geological conditions andfragile ecological conditions. Over 70% of China’s cities and 50% of the population arelocated in the regions frequently hit by major meteorological, seismological, geological andmaritime disasters.
China has witnessed such disasters as flood and waterlog, drought, windstorm, hail, dust
storm, typhoon, low temperature and freeze, snow, earthquake, landslide, debris flow andso on. Of all the natural disasters, flood, drought and earthquake have led to the most
severe losses, accounting for 80% to 90% of the total.Since 1949, major drought would
happen more than 8 times, flood and waterlog 7 times and typhoon 8 times each year.
The major hazards are droughts, snowstorms, and earthquakes in western and northern
regions. The hazards are mainly floods, landslides, droughts, and earthquakes in northeast,
southwest and central regions. The major hazards are floods, typhoons, subsidence, anddroughts in southeast regions.
Since 1990 to 2011, natural disasters have annually caused about 400 million people
affected, 4 million houses collapsed and 10 million people evacuated, leading to the direct
losses of nearly 200 billion Yuan. Natural disasters have become an important factor that
restricts the harmonious and sustainable socio-economic development of China.

2.2 Recent Major Disasters(basic data of disasters, damage situation, response,
recovery info)a) wenchuan earthquake
At 14:28 on May 12 2008, 8
Earthquake occurred in WenchuanCounty,SichuanProvince.The

earthquake is the second serious
earthquake

disaster

since

the

founding of China. A total of 10
provinces, 417 counties, 4,667
townships and 48,810 villages and4625.6

millionpeoplewere

Figure5: wenchuan earthquake

affected, 1510.6 million people
emergency relocated, 69,227 people died, 17,923 people missing, 37.4 million people
injured, 7967000 houses collapsed, 24543000 houses damaged, tolls 121 billion dollar
losses.
At 3:40 p.m. on May 12th, the National Disaster Reduction Committee, Ministry of Civil
Affairs to start second emergency response, promoted to first emergency response at 22:15
on the May 12.
b) Low temperature and snowstorm in
china
Low

temperatureandsnowstorm

disasters affected 21 provinces inJanuary 2008 to February. 136 people
died and missing, 166 million people
emergency

relocated,

485,000

houses collapsed, 1,686,000 houses
damaged,21 billion dollar losses.
January 21 to 28, the National
Disaster

Reduction

Committee,

Ministry of Civil Affairs start the four
emergency response in 20 provinces.

Figure6:

Low temperature and snowstorm inc) Yushu earthquake in Qinghai Province
At 7:49 on April 14th 2010, 7.1
Earthquake occurred in Yushu Tibetan
Autonomous

Prefecture

of

Yushu

County .22.3 million people wereaffected, 2698 people died and 270
people missing, 188,000 emergency
relocated, 246,000 houses collapsed,
51,000 houses damaged ,3 billion
dollar losses.
At 9:00 on April 14th, the National
Disaster

Reduction

Committee,

Ministry of Civil Affairs to start second
emergency response.

Figure7:

Yushu earthquake in Qinghai Provinced) zhouqu Mudslides
At August 7, The Mudslides occurred in Zhouqu County, Gannan province, 1434 people
died and 331 missing.
At August 7, 2010, the National Disaster Reduction Committee, Ministry of Civil Affairs tostart second emergency response.

Figure8:zhouqu landslide3. Disaster Management System
3.1 Administrative System in china
National Commission for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) is responsible for establishing statepolicies, regulations, guidelines and action plans on disaster mitigation. Besides, It is also
responsible for organizing major national disaster reduction activities, directing local efforts
and facilitating cross-border interactions & collaborations.
NCDR is composed of 34 ministries and bureaus, and the standing bodies of it include
general office, board of experts and NDRCC (National Disaster Reduction Center of China).

办公室

General Office

国家减灾委员会

专家委员会National Commission for Disaster
Reduction

Board of Experts

国家减灾中心NDRCC

国务院办公厅

General Office of the StateCouncil

民政部

Ministry of Civil Affairs

科技部

Ministry of Science andTechnology

公安部

Ministry of Public Security

商务部Ministry of Commerce财政部Ministry of Finance

交通部

铁道部

Ministry of Railways

农业部

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry ofCommunications

卫生部

Ministry of Public Health

安全监管总局

Administration of Work
Safety中国地震局

China Seismological
Bureau

国家海洋局

State Bureau of Oceanic
Administration

国家统计局State Statisitics Bureau

中国气象局

国家发改委

外交部

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

国防科工委

教育部

Ministry of Education

信息产业部

Ministry of Information
Industry

国家环保总局

State Environmental
Protection Administration

中国保监会

国家测绘局

解放军总参谋部

中国科学技术协会

General Staff
Headquarters

建设部

Ministry of Construction

水利部

Ministry of Water
Resources

国家广电总局

State Administration of
Ratio, Film and Television

中国科学院

国家林业局

State Forestry Bureau

China Insurance
Regulatory Commision

China Society and Technology Association

Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for
National Defence

国土资源部

Ministry of Land andResources

China Meteorological
BureauState Bureau of Surveying
and Mapping

State Development andReform Commission

China Academy of
Science

自然科学基金会

The National Natural
Science Foundation

武装警察部队
’Chinese People s
Armed Police Force

中国红十字协会Red Cross Society of China

Figure9: National Commission for Disaster Reduction (NCDR)

3.2 Legal System and Framework
The china government enhanced of Disaster Reduction Organization and Relevant Legal
System. More than 30 laws and regulations have been promulgated on earthquake
preparation, fire prevention, flood preparation, weather forecast and sandstorm prevention
and management.

3.3 Structure of Disaster Managementa) National platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
China established the National Commission for Disaster Reduction (NCDR), the Office ofState Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH), the National Disaster
Reduction Committee is responsible for all natural disasters Risk Reduction, It composed of
34 ministries and bureaus.Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters(SFDH) only in charge of flood and drought disaster Risk Reduction, It composed of 5
ministries and bureaus.
b) National and Local Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction
There are 7 national organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction in china. It included theMinistry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Bureau ofForestry, Bureau of Oceanic, Bureau of earthquake, Bureau of Meteorology, The Ministry of
Civil Affairs is responsible for all natural Disaster Relief, the Ministry of Agriculture is
responsible for biological disasters risk reduction, the Ministry of Water Resources is
responsible for flood and drought disasters risk reduction, the Bureau of Forestry is
responsible for forest fires risk reduction, , Bureau of Oceanic in charge of marine disasters
risk reduction, Bureau of earthquake in charge of earthquake disasters risk reduction, theBureau of Meteorology provide other six Ministries and commissions meteorologicalTechnical Support.

4. Disaster Management Strategy, Policy, and plan
Facing with the severe disaster, Chinese government took measures as follow:

4.1 Integration of disaster reduction into national Development Plans
the disaster reduction has been included into the state’s development plan. The Chinese
government has placed disaster risk reduction as a top priority on the agenda of the stateand local socio-economic development plan.A state emergency response system has been
gradually built and improved. The “State 12th Five-year Plan for Disaster Reduction” hasbeen formulated.

4.2 Improvement of disaster information management
With the development of disaster management, Chinese government pay more attention to
Disaster Information Management. So MCA and NDRCC developed National Disaster
Information Management System in 2008. Since 2008, All disaster management using thesystem submitted the disaster imformation to the National Commission for Disaster
Reduction, each county in China have one user by National Disaster Information
Management System, There are 5000 disaster management user at present,.
According to the Regulation on Natural Disaster Statistics, civil affairs departments at county
level are required to report disaster information within two hours after the disaster occurs. Alldisaster Information will be collected and published by county user in National Disaster。

Information Management System

Figure10: National Disaster Information Management System

4.3 Enhancement of disaster response management
The State Council issued the “State Overall Contingency Plan for Emergent Public Events”.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs made the “Contingency Plan for Disaster Relief”, the “Operation
Procedures for Abrupt Natural Disasters” and the “Operation Procedures for Emergent
Disaster Relief”. Contingency Plans at provincial level, city level and county level were
issued. Contingency Plans of towns, factories and schools were made. According national
contingency plan system, when disaster happened Related stuff were on duty to keep close
contact with affected areas. Joint workgroup was established as soon as possible and；reached affected areas in 24 hours Emergency material was disseminated to victims in 24
hours. Central emergency fund was allocated to disaster areas in 72 hours.

Figure11: Disaster response level

Figure12: Standards of National Emergency Response
China has also established disaster relief material reserve system. Central-level stockpilesof disaster relief material have been built in 22 cities including Shenyang, Tianjin, Wuhan,Nanning, Chengdu, Xi’an and so on. Meanwhile, local stockpiles in some disaster-prone
areas have also been set up.

Figure13: Central-level stockpiles of disaster relief material

4.4 Application of RS into disaster reduction
China plans to launch two small optical satellites and one small SAR satellite recently, called
the "2+1” Project, and also will launch another 4 optical satellites and 4 SAR satellites later.

Figure14: The remote sensing technology in china
The remote sensing technology and geographical information system have been used indisaster monitoring and assessment, which have provided technical support forcomprehensive disaster reduction, disaster relief and post-disaster rebuilding.

4.5 Elevation of public awareness of disaster reduction
In order to spread disaster prevention knowledge, enhance the public awareness of safetyand help people have the knowledge on first aid and mutual aid. Central government issued
the “Overall Implementation for Publicity of the Knowledge Concerning Emergency
Management”. Central government initiated a nationwide campaign to “reduce disasters at
communities”. NCDR, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly distributed the“Views on Improving the Work of Disaster Reduction in Schools”. NCDR compiled the“Handbook of Disaster Prevention and Self-Rescue”.

4.6 Development of cooperation mechanism on regional disaster mitigation
Since 2008, the annual level disaster officials over the Minister to attend the International
Conference on Disaster Reduction at least 25 more times to strengthen the communicationand cooperation between the organization of the International Disaster Reduction.

5. Progress of the implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action(HFA)
Hyogo Framework for Action identified five actions as the priorities to be fulfilled that
requires countries, regions and international organizations as well as other stakeholders toreflect the five actions and to discharge them in accordance with their own conditions andcapacity. In recent years, China has operated a great amount of disaster reduction activities
within this framework.
5.1 To ensure the disaster risk reduction prioritized in the governmental and local
work and to build the firm institutional foundation for implementation.
a) Build and enhance the disaster reduction and relief working system.
b) Incorporate disaster reduction into relative plansc) Legislation development of disaster prevention and reductiond) National comprehensive disaster reduction demonstrative communities building
5.2 Clarification, assessment and monitoring with early-warning intensifieda) Sound disaster risk management mechanismb) Nature disaster monitoring and early-warning systemc) Plan the comprehensive investigation of disaster risks and disaster reduction capacity in
key areas
5.3 Disaster reduction awareness increasing though knowledge spreading andinnovation and educationa) The “National day for disaster prevention and reduction” was settledb) Publicity and education activities to carry out disaster prevention and mitigationc) Scientific support system for disaster prevention and reductiond) The relevant standards of disaster reduction relief
5.4 Underlying risk reductiona) Disaster reduction project to increase the comprehensive disaster prevention capacityb) Strengthen the social security network constructionc) Explore to carry out disaster insurance
5.5 Strengthen the disaster preparedness and precaution measuresa) Establish emergency disaster relief emergency response system, and improve
emergency response capabilitiesb) Enhance the contingency plan development and focus on community disaster reductioncapacityc) Disaster emergency relief materials reserved) Professional personnel development and improve the work quality of disaster reduction
personnel’s

6. Recent Major Projects on Disaster Risk Reduction
6.1 National survey projects on comprehensive risks of natural disasters
Making full use of the existing information on various disasters, China will establish an index
system of comprehensive risks and disaster prevention capacities, conduct national surveys
on the comprehensive risks of natural disasters and disaster reduction capacities, establish
a database, a model base, an approach base and a technical system for the national
assessment of the comprehensive risks of natural disasters, and carry out risk assessmentsof typical disasters, comprehensive risk assessments of multi-disasters and disaster chains.
It will also start the evaluation of disaster reduction capacities in different regions, and set up
a national nomative and technical systems for the cartographic standard of thecomprehensive risks of natural disasters.
China will draw up disaster risk maps at three levels, with the scales being 1:1,000,000 for
the national level, 1:250,000 for the provincial level, and 1:50,000 for the municipal level andcounties. The risk maps will provide scientific supports for the central government and local
governments’ efforts in development plans, natural disaster prevention, major project
construction, and emergency rescue and disaster relief.

6.2 Informatization construction projects on national comprehensive disaster
reduction and risk management
To ensure a smooth coordination in disaster relief and resource sharing, the Chinese
government will speed up informatization efforts based on the country’s unified electronic
administration network, population database, legal entities’ information database, andgeographical information database. Both the central government and local governments’capabilities of obtaining, analyzing and judging information about disaster situation anddisaster relief, as well as the abilities of consultation and decision-making on disaster relief
and reduction will be improved, and relevant governmental departments’ cooperation indisaster prevention and reduction will be streamlined.

6.3 Construction projects on national command system of emergency relief ofnatural disasters
China aims to build up a command system of emergency relief in order to ensure timely
delivery of messages about disasters, decisions, instructions, and dispatching of materials.
It also plans to establish an information system concerning loss assessment and emergency
plan maneuvers, which will furnish the basis for strategic decisions in emergency relief
efforts. Real-time messaging regarding emergency relief will then be processed quite

effectively and communication of instructions will be significantly streamlined and improved.

6.4 National relief material reserve projects
Based on the principles of overall planning, reasonable distribution and resource integration,
China will build or rebuild a batch of relief material reserve pools at the central governmental
level. Local governments of areas that are vulnerable to disasters and frequently hit bydisasters will be asked to set up relief material reserves at three administrative levels(provincial level, municipal level, and the county level) in accordance with actual andestimated needs. Therefore, a four-level network of relief material reserves adapting to
China’s national conditions and featuring level-to-level administration, rapid response,
reasonable layout, appropriate scale, adequate functions, and potency assurance will beestablished.
China will strive to improve its reserves of materials which can ensure critical life support topeople affected by disasters, epidemic prevention, emergency traffic support, and forest fire
prevention. Besides, it will strengthen the relief material reserve efforts in the central andwestern regions, and optimize the management and utilization of relief materials throughenhancing information management capabilities. To boost material delivery, China will
gradually build up a national relief material transportation network that covers transportation
scheduling, resource supply and vehicle maintenance.

6.5 Construction projects on satellite constellation for environment and disaster
reduction
China is set to strengthen its three-dimensional monitoring of natural disasters and advancethe construction of spatial information infrastructure for disaster prevention and reduction. It
will perfect the small satellite constellation for environment and disaster monitoring, enhancethe demonstration of index system on the integration of land monitoring, space monitoringand disaster scene monitoring, and advance the establishment of “4+4” constellation thatconsists of four optical satellites and four radarsats. All of these can ensure a monitoring
capabilities featuring flexibility, high density, high accuracy, wide coverage, and combinedmeans, and a 12-hour consistent monitoring of disasters. The consistency of satellites’
orbits and the sustainable development of ground application systems will then be possible.
In addition, China vows to strengthen the link between satellites for scientific research andthe ones for disaster monitoring, take advantage of the satellites both domestic and abroad,and realize high resolution integrated monitoring of emergency responses. To promote theprocess, analysis and service level of operation system, China will upgrade its disasterremote sensing application model, as well as user applications and related regulations.
What’s more, the mechanism for disaster monitoring, early warning, disaster assessment,
emergency response, and reconstruction will become more advanced. The feasibilities ofestablishing a space information service platform for disaster prevention and reduction will
also be demonstrated.
China will further utilize satellites in disaster reduction by means of intensifying
demonstration and generalization of applied technology. Making full use of resources suchas the national remote sensing calibration field, target detection field, and comprehensive
experimental field, China will advance the study of the quantification of disasters, upgrade
the cooperation mechanism in the combined monitoring through satellites for catastrophic
natural disasters and aerial remote sensors, promote regional and provincial capacity
building of application of technologies key to disaster reduction, better the existing centersof satellites for disaster reduction in certain regions and be more skilled in applying thetechnologies to disaster reduction.

6.6 Construction projects on national simulation system for large andcatastrophic natural disaster prevention
China will use numerical simulations in studies which include mechanisation of occurence
and evolution of disasters, scenario analysis, and emergency coping to better prepare thecountry in the event of large and catastrophic natural disasters. More attention will be giventodisasterchainssuch

asearthquake-geology,

typhoon-rainstorm-floods,

hightemperature–drought-sandstorm, and low temperature-freeze-cold front. A computer
simulation system will be set up after the integration of existing resources in order to realize
a multi-dimensional visual simulation of disaster risk early warnings, emergency response
maneuvers and optimized decision making. This system will function as a platform andprovide scientific supports for the assessment of devastating natural disasters and thedecision-making in disaster relief efforts.
China is also set to conduct experiments to simulate disasters like flood and earthquake,establish a large-scale experimental platform and operating environment for the study oftypical natural disasters, and deepen the research and cooperation in disaster prevention
and reduction strategies.

6.7 Construction projects on comprehensive disaster-reduction demonstration
communities and shelters
China plans to build 5,000 “national comprehensive disaster-reduction demonstration
communities” in accordance with national standards, and establish shelters equipped withemergency supplies, escape instructions, emergency broadcast facilities, domestic disaster
relief apparatus and life preservers near rural and urban communities for emergent
evacuation and temporary stay. Both urban and rural communities will have their own
emergency response plan and disaster risk map, and conduct disaster relief drills and build
their own rescue teams from volunteers.

In the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and the emerging
developing zones in the central and western regions, China will, referring to the cities’
population distribution, layout and their development plans, make use of schools and large
public service areas and green zones in downtown or areas with dense populations to build
up emergency shelters where emergency command and medical care can be given. In the
countryside vulnerable to disasters, China will utilize existing schools, stadiums and otherpublic places to build or rebuild more emergency shelters on the basis of local layout,
population distribution and disaster risk situation.

6.8 Projects on publicity, education and popularization of science for disasterprevention and reduction
China aims to build or rebuild at least one publicity and education base for disasterprevention and reduction in each province. More support will be given to the central andwestern regions that are frequently hit by disasters. Multi-media equipments and apparatus
for disaster prevention and reduction will be installed, and the public there will get access tofree cultural services related to disaster prevention and reduction. Also, China will develop anational website for the publicity and education on disaster prevention and reduction.
Programs on the schedule also include the establishments of a resource database, anexpert database, and a national digital library for disaster prevention and reduction, thus
resource sharing, online communication, and distance education can be realized.
As for the popularization of science, China plans to develop a series of popular science
readings, wall charts, and audiovisual products, and publish training materials for different
groups on disaster prevention and reduction. It will also organize various campaigns about
disaster prevention and reduction and professional training.. By conducting emergency drills
in response to natural disasters and training officials at all levels, China hopes to reinforce
the public’s awareness of disaster prevention and reduction, and help people improve theskills of self-aid and mutual aid.

7. The main countermeasures for the next step (Research Topic)
7.1 Improvement of natural disaster monitoring, early warning and forecasting
abilities
Developing a full-fledged network of natural disaster monitoring, early warning andforecasting by modernizing meteorological, hydrological, seismic, geological, marine andenvironmental monitoring infrastructure and properly increasing monitoring frequency.
Building a satellite remote-sensing disaster monitoring system to raise the data gaining andapplying ability. Applying new science and technology into disaster relief so as to build an
all-round natural disaster monitoring system. Building a sound pre-warning information
release mechanism in order to issue timely information.

7.2 Reinforcement of the construction of major disaster reduction projects
Putting in place special plans of disaster resilience and giving more weight tocomprehensive harness of medium and small-sized rivers & reservoirs and areas vulnerable
to landslide and mud-rock flows
Focusing on backbone projects of disaster mitigation including programs for flood control,
drought relief, earthquake prevention & emergency response, typhoon & storm surge
prevention, sand prevention & control, plant diseases & insect pests control, forest &grassland fire control and Sanbei Shelter Forest Project & coastal shelter forest initiatives

7.3 Advancement of non-project disaster mitigation activities
Compiling the countryside disaster reduction, industrial and urban disaster reduction and
key area disaster prevention plans to raise the comprehensive prevention capacity.
Four-level command system should be improved to establish an orderly, efficient andquick-response management and operation system. The central and local disaster reliefmaterial reserve networks and their equipment and facility construction should be intensified
The construction of backbone, professionalized and volunteer relief teams such as thecivil-affairs disaster relief team, army, armed police, public security firefighting teams should
be strengthened so as to build up and better the public mobilization mechanism. Community
disaster-reduction knowledge should be better publicized to raise the public’s self-rescue
abilities.

7.4 Elevation of the comprehensive research on greatly destructive disasters
Asian Greatly Destructive Disaster Research Center will be set up to study the causes androutines of greatly destructive disasters and the relationship between them and theirsubsequent disasters; and simulation of mutations of major natural disasters and simulation
experiments on emergency response to greatly destructive disasters will be carried out.
Sound systems, mechanisms and policy measures will be developed and improved to deal
with greatly destructive disasters. Contingency plans should be made for the city clusters in
the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta and the Pan-Bohai area and other key cities
and disaster-prone areas. Relevant disaster relief drills should also be conducted.

7.5 Improvement of international cooperation to cope with global climaticchanges
The Chinese Government has instituted & promulgated China’s National Climate Change
Program. A portfolio of policy-measures will be taken to facilitate economic restructuring andtransform economic growth pattern. Efforts will be made to achieve energy conservation &efficiency, develop renewable energy and deliver ecological improvement projects. All thesewill help fight climate change. China is on target to boost exchange and collaboration withother developing countries.