Opinion | Chinese ambassador’s US TV interview a chance to reflect on how to deal with interrupters
- The Face the Nation programme during which host Margaret Brennan repeatedly interrupted Chinese ambassador Qin Gang sparked debate and highlighted cultural differences
- To survive and succeed in the West, Asians must be aware of the value systems there and adopt smart strategies in the face of chronic interruptions
“What should I do to make him stop interrupting me?” This question was in my head when a senior professor interrupted me several times during my job interview at UCLA in 1985 as a graduate student. This professor claimed my research work had already been done by him 10 years earlier, and he kept badgering me when I tried to explain why this was not the case. Since then, I have gradually learned how to respond to interruptions.
Was Brennan rude to Qin? Was her interviewing style racially or politically motivated? During my discussions with my friends in Hong Kong, mainland China and the United States, two different perspectives emerged.
Many Hongkongers told me they were often interrupted by their Western colleagues at work. From the perspective of Hongkongers and mainland Chinese, our Chinese values teach us to respect seniors and officials.
Therefore, Chinese viewers might naturally find Brennan rude. Indeed, some Chinese social media users complained that the American host was disrespectful at best and hostile towards China at worst.
However, most Americans and Westerners in general believe in treating everyone the same regardless of their status. Therefore, it is no surprise that most of my American friends did not think Brennan was rude.
Brennan often interrupts her guests on her show when their comments are not in line with the views of the American majority. This is a smart move because popularity rating is a key measure of television shows. Brennan’s interruptions can be construed by viewers as her being on their side.