[The Great RJ]

It seems insane that a nation that can't even give the majority of its people flush toilets and drinkable water will spend billions on going into space. Ditto for countries like India and Pakistan for doing the same with their nuclear weapons development.

While some offered the same arguement here in the 1960's about the US space program, I seem to recall that the US standard of living in those days for most peole was far better than enjoyed by the average Chinese today.

[Frank_Discussion]

It's seemingly insane, but countries on a war footing sometimes do this dort of thing. Perhaps this could lend an insight on their views of space utilization, and their seriousness.

[r9etb]

It seems insane that a nation that can't even give the majority of its people flush toilets and drinkable water will spend billions on going into space. Ditto for countries like India and Pakistan for doing the same with their nuclear weapons development.

You need to broaden your view of why they'd do this. It's a national pride/national identity sort of thing. The general idea would be for the average Joe (or whatever is Chinese for Joe) to be able to sa that "we put somebody into orbit."

Whether it will have a lasting effect remains to be seen. But that's pretty much the point of their manned space program.