China's Image-obsessed Strategy Backfires

Less than a week after the world gushed at the jaw-dropping spectacle of the Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing, comes word that the little 9 year-old girl in the red dress, Lin Miaoke, was lip-synching to the voice of Yang Peiyi, another young singer with superior vocals, but whose physical appearance, according to the program's chief musical director, was not 'flawless in image'. And that parts of the amazing 29 'firework footprints' leading into the National stadium were computer-generated. Or that the first Olympic Games to sell out all the event tickets is home to large numbers of empty seats in many of the events, causing an uproar for many of the corporate sponsors. To add insult to injury, the video of the original radio interview where these details were divulged, was abruptly pulled from the Internet by the government. Add to that the continuing controversy about alleged falsified birth certificates allowing under-aged Chinese gymnasts to compete. This is what I hate about the Beijing Olympics - the Chinese government's need to 'save face' by resorting to any means (and costs) to impress or win. The falsehoods have obviously backfired for the image-obsessed Chinese who are now having to answer some hard questions.

Which made me ponder the question of the transition for a country who, since moving to a capitalist system, has become increasingly materialistic and obsessed with their image in the international community. In trying to improve their superficial image, they spent hundreds of millions of dollars, only to further diminish their reputation when it comes to their integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. Any initial positive impressions was short-lived once all truths were revealed. That's on a macro level, but is eerily transferable on a micro level, where image-obsessed Western individuals spend money on improving their superficial image (clothes, make-up, cars etc.) to impress others while hiding their deeper insecurities and leading to greater levels of unhappiness. Rich countries such as the US have much higher rates of depression than in poorer countries. Why do you think that is - possibly because their population focuses so much of their energies aspiring to be the same as the superficial images and lifestyles splayed across billboards, magazine ads and television than on more important issues such as personal growth, family, community and service to others?

Pity little 7-year old Yang Peiyi, who was blessed with, and judged to have, the most pristine young voice in China, only to realise that it is more important not to be chubby or have crooked teeth.