Helpful or not
Thought the NYT piece was fairly well-tempered. And the fact is that the PRC cannot have it both ways - that is, the country cannot launch a significant effort within the overall SAR activity, but then claim immunity from being held accountable for its efforts. Or to claim any impropriety in those accounts being taken by responsible members of the SAR activity (or of the larger world civil aeronautics establishment).
Notice the careful structure of the Annex 13 (ICAO) investigatory effort detailed by the Malaysians on April 5 and 7....with proper assignations of Accredited Representatives (among other things). One wonders to what extent China's efforts in the SAR activity were likewise aligned with ICAO terms and procedures? Were its satellite imagery releases more like free-lancing or were they consistent with its later-designated Accredited Representative role? Same question, relative to its acoustic searches (or the 'reasonable facsimile thereof' depicted photographically in the small boat).
The team effort of the SAR activity perhaps is a highly Westernized undertaking. Viewed from that perspective, the NYT article is mild stuff.