Transparency Key for Chinese-U.S. Space Cooperation

摘要

Chinese taikonaut Yang Li-wei recently completed a visit to the United States. Who knew? If you don't read People's Daily from Beijing or U.S. space trade publications, the chances of randomly coming across press coverage were slim. Partly that reflects a lack of interest outside the U.S. space community, and partly it was a function of the visit being highly controlled by the Chinese. At a reception in Florida, reporters were told they could take pictures but not speak to Yang. Photo opportunities notwithstanding, pictures of Yang presenting a United Nations flag that he carried into space to Kofi Annan apparently did not warrant much, if any, coverage in major American newspapers and television networks.