http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7602968.stm
The gist of it is that China will launch its 3rd manned space flight soon. This time is special because the astronauts will be doing the spacewalk. In other words, they will be leaving the relative safety of their spacecraft and going to into cold space. The event will be televised and broadcast live throughout the entire country.
In 2003, China launched its 1st manned space flight, making it the 3rd country in the world to send humans to space. At this period of time, the world was witnessing the power of the growing Chinese economy. The West started to see China as a potential candidate for the next superpower to challenge the United States. To top it off, China successfully completed its 1st manned space flight. In this case, China is flexing its muscles, ready to prove that it is rising superpower not to be reckoned with.
I feel this is an example of how countries can engage in non-verbal communication. The fact that China is able to send a man into space tells a lot about the country. Having a successful space program requires a lot of investment. First of all, you need the money to fund the space program. Secondly, you will need the technology required to build the spacecraft. Lastly, you will require the manpower and technical know-how to actually build the spacecraft. Not to mention, train the required workforce such as the astronauts and engineers.
More than just a rocket, the Shenzhou is the pride of a nation.All in all, this is no easy feat. The fact that China can pull this off shows that China has the money, technology and expertise to match those of the West. Remember that the only 2 other countries who have their own successful manned space flights are the United States and Russia. For countries, outer space is one of the few privileged frontiers. The ability to go to space is seen as a status symbol. It is similar to how people use flashy cars like Porsche and Ferrari to flaunt their status, which comes under the Artifacts type of non-verbal communication. In this case, they are showing off their Shenzhou spacecraft.
Thus, this is an example of non-verbal communication on China's part. They cannot declare to the world that they are an upcoming superpower, they have to show it through their actions. Thus, they chose to go into space. Note in the last part of the article that China sent a probe into space in response to the Japanese launching their own probe. This shows that China sees Japan as a rival to be the leading nation in space exploration for the Asia-Pacific region. This kind of response action and muscle flexing can be considered as the Kinesics type of non-verbal communication.
What other examples of non-verbal communication among nations can you find? The Olympics? The Russian invasion of Georgia? The Iranian cruise missile tests?
8 comments:
i think there is more than just 'muscle flexing' going on here.
the act of proving superiority is also to advertise the country's technology advancements and capabilities so that other countries will consider investing or setting up companies in China.
also, with the recent spate of events with regard to the products 'Made in China' (think milk scandal), stunts like these will help to redeem them.
sometimes i really don't know what to make of china. on the international front, they are putting in so much effort to portray themselves as the new superpower, by hosting the successful olympics, launching of the spacecrafts etc.
on the other, which is more on the local level, unscrupulous merchants are still using despicable ways to make money. i thought that corruption was bad enough an act, but to poison your own future generation? that is simply uncomprehensible. it is certainly time that china pull up its act.
ESPN writer wrote this about the olympics:
In China, you have a country where there are malls with Ferrari dealerships, hotels so lavish they describe themselves as "seven-star" and so many Western chains that the world's most famous landmark has a Starbucks. You have a country with a skyscraper that appears ever so much like a man striding through the city, and another building that showed Olympic video replays 24/7 on screens so large you can see rhythmic gymnasts a mile away.
And it's exactly China's problem. They put too much emphasis on power, money, and looks (reputation). To them, they are very down-to-earth, which is not a bad thing, but they have neglected their culture and morals as a result.
I wouldn't want to live in a country that looks good on the outside, but have tons of problems beneath the surface.
Agreed shawn. But perhaps China's population is really too large to handle. China should indeed work on solving things at a lower level first before trying to flash their power.
Their one birth policy is an attempt at this..but statistics show that abortions are on the rise. The Chinese prefer male babies, and would abort if they find out it's a female. Kinda sick, just illustrating one underlying problem that is working against the government's policies.
Unfortunately, that is due to the old Chinese practice of preferring male children. This is because males are needed to pass on the family name and other stuff.
If anything, the government should work to changing these outdated mindsets and enforcing stiff penalties on those who abort their 1st child just because it is a girl.
But yes, they are trying to give a good image on the outside, but they have overlooked their inner problems.
Has China really ignored their culture and morals?
Are their internal problems of such severity that they are not allowed to potray a powerful image?
Is it fair to blame an entire nation for the misdeeds of unscrupulous merchants?
I feel China has come a long way, as an Asian friend we must be proud of their achievements and hope that in time to come China will be efficient in cleaning up their internal affairs.
:)
I look at it as China being too impatient, in wanting to be one of the top nations and to be recognized. In order for them to gain this fame, they paid a heavy price and neglected many administrative and economical problems within the country. To me, they are spending time and effort on the wrong things and if they continue like this, with a weak foundation, I guess they wont be going very far even after showing how powerful they are.
This is the way how countries show off what they have and feel great about it? But even after using or wasting so much resources at the expense of their country's image, china's citizens will definitely feel very proud about their nationalilty.
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