China’s drought disaster risk management: Perspective of severe droughts in 2009–2010

China has been frequently and heavily affected by drought disasters. During 2009–2010, three large-scale severe droughts struck China, caused considerable social, economic, and ecological losses. These droughts showed significant regional differences. This study employs a two-stage transition framework comprising “entry” and “exit” transitions to discuss disaster risk management of drought in China, by taking the three droughts as comparative case studies. Chinese society’s response in the exit transition is examined and the underlying factors that enable the entry trigger are diagnosed. The policy responses that lead to the exit transition from these drought disasters were appropriate, but there is substantial room for improvement in management strategy regarding both entry and exit transitions. This article suggests that government policies should emphasize entry-prevention measures that reduce adverse impacts early in a drought episode rather than focus solely on improving performance in achieving a rapid exit transition from drought.