Survey reveals ongoing negative sentiments towards China among Americans
- In Reports
- 06:11 PM, May 04, 2024
- Myind Staff
A recent public opinion poll reported by Voice of America reveals that for the fifth consecutive year, approximately eight out of ten Americans maintain unfavorable perceptions of China.
The Washington-based Pew Research Center disclosed that 81 percent of Americans harbor unfavorable sentiments toward China, with 43 percent expressing a particularly strong aversion towards the nation.
Christine Huang, a research associate at Pew, remarked in an interview with VOA that views of China across all Americans remain critical and pretty negative.
Huang emphasized the importance of monitoring public sentiment towards China and its actions, particularly as China becomes a prominent player on the global stage. She stressed the need to assess how these perceptions may impact foreign policy decisions.
The survey underscores the influence of political ideology and age on individuals' attitudes towards China. Huang explained that not all Americans perceive China in the same light, with certain demographics exhibiting notably negative views of the country.
According to Pew's findings, Republicans exhibit a significantly more unfavorable stance towards China compared to Democrats. Republicans and those leaning towards the party are approximately twice as likely as their Democratic counterparts to hold an extremely unfavorable view of China and perceive it as a US adversary.
Moreover, conservative Republicans demonstrate a higher propensity for negative perceptions of China and a belief in Beijing’s adversarial role compared to moderate or liberal Republicans. Additionally, older individuals tend to harbor more apprehension towards China, with Americans aged 65 and above showcasing a more unfavorable view of Beijing.
While Pew’s research does not delve into the underlying reasons behind Americans’ negative perceptions of China, it does examine perceptions of Chinese influence, as clarified by Huang.
“A majority of Americans believe that China’s power and influence have grown in recent years,” noted Huang. “So, there’s a correlation between the perception of China’s increasing power and the negative attitudes towards the country.”
This sentiment is particularly pronounced when considering China’s economic impact on the United States. Over 80 per cent of Americans believe that China wields at least a fair amount of influence on US economic conditions, with the majority perceiving this influence negatively.
Among those who acknowledge China’s influence on the US economy, 79 percent view it negatively, in contrast to 18 percent who perceive it positively, according to Pew’s findings.
VOA reported that according to Huang, one noteworthy aspect highlighted in this year’s survey is American apprehension regarding China’s territorial disputes. Beijing’s claims over extensive regions of the South China Sea, despite opposition from countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, have sparked concern among Americans.
The report revealed that approximately six out of ten Americans, or 61 percent, express some level of concern about territorial disputes between China and its neighboring countries, with 20 percent indicating significant concern. “Americans are considering the broader implications beyond their immediate interests,” remarked Huang.
Image source: ANI
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