PR...hard to hide a massive flood.
Why do you think they routinely torture chinese "political" prisoners? Why do you think they have a closed society, regardless of the charade they're parading as an "open" economy? Why do you think they use slave labor? (And sadly, we turn a blind eye to it.)
Are you defending oppression? Why do you think Taiwan exists? What has slowly happened to Hong Kong's supposed pact with Beijing for "self-governance"? And on, an on, an on...
The flood rescues were partially PR, but undoubtedly they were organized by local officials who have an emotional stake in the community.
I agree that a portion of the Chinese people, and a portion of the American people, and most Europeans, have little or no regard for human life (except for the lives of their families, their friends and their own sorry behinds). In China, the national government is controlled by those who think abortion is an effective method of population control, etc. In America, our national government is leaning much more pro-life, though it's a constant battle. (Europe is a lost cause.)
But when you look at the community level, you see people who do care about life. I believe it is for this reason that thousands of people were rescued from drowning during the recent rains.