The CRSA provides structured organizational support for amateur radio emergency communications in the People's Republic of China. In January, 2009, the American Radio Relay League recognized the CRSA by conferring the 2008 ARRL Humanitarian Award jointly to the Chinese Radio Sports Association and the Sichuan Radio Sports Association for their communications support during the disaster response following the May, 2008 Sichuan earthquake that killed an estimated 69,000 people. In granting the award, the ARRL praised the CRSA as an organization that "exemplified the highest level of dedication to public service."