The fact that China has done the same thing does change the picture.
From the Fish and Wildlife Federation
The following lists the governments and the year they destroyed ivory:
Kenya, 1989, 1991, 2011, 2015;
Zambia,1992;
United Arab Emirates, 1992, 2015;
Gabon, 2012;
Philippines, 2013;
China,2014, 2015;
Chad, 2014;
France, 2014;
Belgium 2014;
Hong Kong 2014;
Ethiopia2015;
Congo, 2015.