China's Positive Global Image Surpasses US for First Time, Pew Research Finds

Washington DC. According to a new study report published by Pew Research Center, China is now viewed more positively than the US in many countries around the world. This is the first time in the history of its studies that this result has been recorded by the institution. The research by this US-based non-partisan think tank has shown that the positive view towards China has reached a historically high point in many countries, while the perception of the US has declined.

Although respondents generally expressed less confidence in both US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Xi received higher marks compared to Trump. While the US is still seen as ahead of China in respecting individual freedoms, it is seen as more culpable than China in interfering in the affairs of other countries.

Pew Research Center conducted this survey among more than 42,000 people in 36 countries between February and May. Survey participants were asked about their views on each superpower: very positive, somewhat positive, somewhat negative, or very negative.

During the research, it was found that in 25 out of 36 countries, the majority of people held a positive view towards China compared to the US. According to Jonathan Schulman, a researcher at this institution, which has been studying global public opinion on superpowers since 2002, this is the first time such a result has been seen in so many countries.

Previously, there was a decline in positivity towards the US towards the end of George W. Bush's term in 2008 and at the beginning of Trump's first term in 2017. Researcher Schulman told the BBC, 'Even then, the positive view towards China was only equal to or slightly less than that of the US.'

This year, the biggest shift in favor of China has been seen in countries like Spain, Indonesia, Italy, Greece, and Canada. Only six countries among those included in the current survey gave priority to the US, including staunch US allies such as Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel.

The study shows that in recent years, the average positive view of the US has been continuously declining in 20 countries, while the average positive view of China has been increasing. According to researchers, the positive view towards China has reached record levels this year in places like Italy, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Turkey.

Generally, a positive view towards China was found more in middle-income countries, and a negative view in rich countries. Singapore is an exception, where despite high per capita GDP, a high level of positivity towards China was found. Both the most positive and most negative views towards China come from the Asia-Pacific region. About 90 percent of people in Pakistan are in favor of China, while only 11 percent in Japan like China.

Survey participants were asked how much confidence they had that Xi and Trump would do the right thing in global affairs. Although the overall level of confidence in both leaders was low, below 50 percent, in many countries, more confidence was expressed in Xi than in Trump.

Xi received his highest rating of 83 percent from Pakistan and his lowest of 7 percent from Japan. For Trump, the highest rating of 68 percent came from the Philippines and the lowest of 4 percent from the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Researcher Schulman said about the survey's findings, 'People did not have strong opinions about Xi like they did about other leaders. In Trump's case, people gave clear and extreme reactions.' While the US government received more points than China for respecting the personal freedoms of its citizens, this gap between the two countries has narrowed considerably.

In middle-income countries, more questions were asked about the foreign policies of the superpowers. An average of 75 percent of people felt that the US interferes a lot or a great deal in the affairs of other countries, while only 45 percent held that view regarding China.

Studies by other organizations have shown similar results. A study conducted last year by a polling company called Gallup showed China surpassing the US in global approval ratings, which is the largest margin in favor of China in the past 20 years.

However, an annual report by the US think tank Asia Society indicated only a slight improvement in China's image, which had declined during the pandemic.

BBC