Trump Xi Summit: Body Language of Upmost Concern
In the latest summit between the two countries’ top political representatives, namely the United States and China, both sides not only talked about the issues they wanted to discuss but also made use of non-verbal communication. It is apparent that when comparing the body language used by two world leaders, namely Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, the difference between the two personalities becomes clear.
Rather than becoming invisible, the visible contrast in the body language of the two world leaders became the topic of discussion concerning the relationship between the two countries.
Two Different Leaders with Varied Energy Personas
While the former communicated through nonverbal means that appeared energized and passionate through his use of hand gestures, sustained eye contact, and confident posture, the latter exhibited a calm demeanor with minimal body movements and a confident posture.
Though difficult to measure nonverbal communication in analyzing diplomatic interactions, many times, experts have been known to lean on it as an additional way of analyzing such matters. With regard to this particular summit, non-verbal communication proved quite true of the two leaders.
Micro-Expressions in Diplomatic Performances
Besides the larger actions, there were other little actions noticed by the observers, especially in the form of pauses before responses, body posture while seated, and the timing of their smiles and acknowledgment. Although they were tiny actions, they gained viral status in the form of videos uploaded in the media and remarks posted on social platforms following the summit.
Due to the availability of instantaneous analysis of video footage, the minutest action becomes magnified into conveying symbolic meaning. Even a nod, a tilt, and a pause could mean many things.
Illustration of the Broader Conflict between the Two Nations
For both countries, having been the largest economies in the world, they remain today the largest economies in the world. In this regard, any meeting between their heads of states is always scrutinized.
In this particular case, the various forms of body languages employed during this diplomatic meeting between the two nations was seen as a visual representation of the complicated relationship that exists between them.
Diplomacy Through Social Media Translated into Instant Interpretation
As video clips about the meeting went online, there was a lot of analysis regarding the behavior of both presidents. Clips showing humor, awkwardness, or mutual appreciation between the two went viral, with people trying to interpret what their gestures truly meant.
Whereas one version of the meaning behind the gestures by Trump said that they were indications of his confidence during the negotiations, another view of the body language by Xi showed his strategic mind.
Optics and Diplomacy
In today’s world, diplomacy is conducted against a backdrop of media optics that carries as much weight as outcomes. In other words, the negotiators are no longer doing business in private; they are conducting themselves in public, where every word that comes out of their mouths may be taped, quoted, and dissected.
This was the case in the recent summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping.
An Analysis of a Meeting Based on Body Language
While the importance of the meeting for the future will ultimately be decided by the statements released by the organizers themselves, the first reaction to the meeting by the general public was not based on words, but on visuals.
Whether the body language chosen was intentional or not, the body language of both the men during the meeting was one of the most talked about aspects by viewers who knew that, at times, what is said without words speaks louder than any other message.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
The New York Times: Trump’s and Xi’s Body Language at the Summit Mirrored Their Styles
Al-Jazeera: ‘Never mess it up’: What Xi and Trump said on day one of Beijing talks
Featured Image Courtesy of World Economic Forum’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
