Two responses to back-to-back Asian disasters, the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China, are revealing in what they say about governance in two different totalitarian states.

It is worth noting that both disasters are unlike the Asian tsunami of 2004. It ravaged several countries, including India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and killed more than 229,000. The world's response to the disaster was generous and comprehensive. With the exception of India, which said that its own resources were adequate to deal with the aftermath, the countries accepted and were grateful for international aid.

The Myanmar and China cases are different; they are also smaller in magnitude. The United Nations estimates that the May 3 calamity may have killed between 62,000 and 100,000. The paranoid generals who rule that country, formerly known as Burma, have approached foreign aid in a way that's irresponsible at best, murderous at worst.

For fear of what impact outside relief workers might have on its pretensions and ambitions to rule the place forever, the Myanmar regime, led by Gen. Than Shwe, 75, is willing to accept the world's aid, but not any help to administer it.

Apart from forgoing the lives saved by a rapid response to the cyclone, the generals' approach raises in the minds of aid donors the possibility of corruption, for which Myanmar and the generals are renowned. At the same time, the Myanmar situation raises the eternal question of why ordinary people end up suffering due to the shortcomings of their leaders.

The Chinese response to Monday's earthquake has been relatively quick and fairly efficient, given China's means and the inaccessibility of some of the ravaged areas. Still, at least 13,000 are dead and another 18,000 unaccounted for.

China, of course, wants to put its best face forward, with the Olympic games drawing near. This is not the Beijing government of just a few decades ago that would seal off access to a disaster zone and even low-ball public reports on the degree of devastation. In one striking example of determined response this time were units of the People's Liberation Army marching on foot, absent roads, into remote parts of the quake zone.

In any case, Americans can only sympathize with the victims of these two natural disasters. President Bush has made clear the nation's willingness to help, through government and private means. So far, China hasn't said it needs U.S. help. Myanmar clearly does, but its leaders are being too pig-headed to accept.