June 4, 2014. Copyright 2014, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Perceptions of China

For media interviews with the participating pollsters, please contact:
Robin Miller, Marketing and Communications Manager
GlobeScan Incorporated
Tel: +1 647 528 2767
Robin.Miller@GlobeScan.com

Steven Kull, Director
Program on International Policy Attitudes, Washington
Tel: +1 202 232 7500
(Mobile: +1 301 254 7500)
Skull@pipa.org 

LONDON, June 4, Graphic News: Views of China have stabilised in 2014 after the sudden deterioration that occurred in 2013, as shown in the latest 24-country poll for the BBC World Service, conducted by GlobeScan and The Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. 

In the 20 tracking countries polled in both years, an average of 42 per cent hold favourable attitudes towards ChinaÕs perceived influence in the world. This represents a two-point increase since last year and is the same proportion as those holding negative views (42%, unchanged), making global opinion divided in perceptions of China.

China ranks eighth out of the 17 rated countries in terms of positive views in 2014, tying the USA. Of the 23 surveyed countries, ten rank ChinaÕs influence positively, nine are negative, and four are divided. 

The most favourable views of China are found in Africa where no surveyed country has less than 65 per cent of positive views. Positive views have increased in two of the three surveyed African nations, reaching 85 per cent in Nigeria (up 7 points, tying China itself in giving the highest percentage in the survey), and 65 per cent in Kenya (also up 7 points). Views have remained stable in Ghana, where two thirds of the opinion lean favourable (67%).

Perceptions of China in surveyed Latin American countries are also mostly positive, with very little change in opinions since 2013. Peru and Brazil are the most favourable and continue to have above 50 per cent of positive views and less than 30 per cent of negative views in 2014. Surveyed for the first time in 2014, Argentina has 45 per cent of positive views compared with 20 per cent of negative ones. Here, only Mexico has a negative perception of China (33% positive vs 40% negative), despite a seven-point decrease in negative ratings from 2013.

As in Brazil, attitudes towards China are also positive and relatively stable in another BRIC nation. The proportion of Russians leaning favourably has increased somewhat, to 47 per cent (up 5 points), while negative views have remained stable (24%). In India, however, the mood towards China has worsened following an eight-point increase in the proportion of negative ratings (35%). Leaning narrowly positive in 2013 (36% positive vs 27% negative), Indian opinion has shifted and is now divided (33% positive vs 35% negative).

In the rest of Asia, opinions of China are widely diverse. In Australia, a significant increase in positive views (up 11 points) combined with a matching decrease in negative ratings has resulted in a shift in opinion, from leaning mainly negative in 2013 (36% positive vs 55% negative) to being divided in 2014 (47% positive vs 44% negative). Similarly, views have warmed a bit in South Korea following a nine-point increase in positive ratings, but they 38 remain negative overall (32% positive vs 56% negative). In Japan, negative perceptions have increased nine points, reaching 73 per cent and hitting a record high since 2005. Having only three per cent positive views, Japan also has the lowest positive opinion of China of all surveyed countries.

ChinaÕs rating of itself excluded, Pakistan has the most positive views of China in Asia, at 75 per cent (although this is down 6 points since 2013). The opinion in Indonesia is also comfortably positive, with a stable majority of 52 per cent holding positive views. ChinaÕs opinion of its own influence on the world has sharply improved in 2014, as positive ratings have risen eight points to 85 per cent and negative ratings have fallen nine points to seven per cent.

In North America, perceptions of China are similar among Canadians and Americans. Sixtyfour per cent of Canadians give negative ratings to ChinaÕs perceived influence (up 5 points), and 66 per cent of American respondents lean the same way (stable).

In the EU countries, Germans have become increasingly negative towards China with 76 per cent perceiving it negatively. This is up nine points since 2013 and is GermanyÕs most unfavourable rating of China since 2005. In France, a stable proportion leans negatively (68%). Negative sentiments have reduced in Spain, dropping eight points to 59 per cent, while positive ratings have simultaneously increased by 11 points to 24 per cent. In the UK, opinion has improved significantly this year, shifting from leaning negatively in 2013 to being divided this year (49% positive vs 46% negative) thanks to a 12-point rise in positive ratings. With 49 per cent of positive ratings, Britons are the most favourable towards China among the Western countries surveyed, but are also the most polarised out of all countries surveyed.

In the Middle East, perceptions of China among Turks have improved following a 22-point drop in negative views, making the countryÕs opinion divided (32% positive vs 31% negative). Newly surveyed this year, Israel leans narrowly negative (27% positive vs 34% negative).
/ENDS