Public Opinion Brief 25-3: International Perceptions of China

Public Opinion Brief No. 25: Global Views on Globalization and the Economy

[1] Korean Perceptions of Neighboring Powers - Seo Sang-min

[2] A Cold World, A Lonely America: Global Assessment of U.S. Influence

[3] International Perceptions of China in 2008 - Gwak So-hee

Majority of South Korean, U.S., and Japanese citizens hold negative views on China's international influence

Gwak So-hee (Research Fellow, EAI Center for Public Opinion Research)

□ Majority of South Korean, U.S., and Japanese citizens hold negative views on China's international influence

Has China succeeded in polishing its international image in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics? In a survey conducted by BBC, EAI, and Korea Research among 17,582 respondents in 34 countries, asking "Do you think China has had a positive or negative impact on the world?", nearly half (49%) responded positively, while 30% responded negatively. This represents a slightly more favorable assessment compared to the same survey conducted last year (42% positive impact, 32% negative impact). However, considering that this survey was conducted before the outbreak of the Tibetan unrest, which has emerged as a serious human rights issue in the international community, a change in results can be expected if the same survey were to be conducted again at this time.

China's policy of Peaceful Rise (和平崛起), proclaimed as the cornerstone of its foreign policy since 2003, has been insufficient to quell international concerns about a "China threat." Despite consistently emphasizing soft power through multilateral diplomacy, China received negative assessments from nearly half of respondents in the EU (45%) and North America (47%). Notably, in South Korea, the United States, and Japan, a majority of citizens (South Korea 50%, U.S. 54%, Japan 59%) hold negative views on China's influence, which is likely to cause considerable embarrassment for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is because one of China's primary foreign policy objectives for enhancing its status as a major power is to strengthen its leadership in Asia, and the key countries with close interests in this regard are South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. Furthermore, anti-American sentiment towards China has gradually eased since 2006, with 46% expressing negative views, while anti-China sentiment in the U.S. remains above a majority. Due to historical perception conflicts, territorial disputes, and energy competition, anti-China sentiment in Japan, along with Germany (59% negative assessment of China), shows the highest levels among the surveyed countries.

□ Favorable opinions prevail in Africa, Australia, and the Middle East



However, international opinion on China's "Peaceful Rise" is not entirely pessimistic. Significantly positive assessments of China's international influence in Africa (65%), the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates (66%), and Australia (60%) demonstrate the effectiveness of China's resource diplomacy. Africa, in particular, for which the Chinese government designated 2006 as the "Year of Africa" and pursued active diplomatic engagement, showed a 12% increase in positive assessments of China compared to 2006, reaching 65%. This can be attributed to China's efforts to secure Africa's abundant natural resources while simultaneously enhancing its image through continuous economic support, such as debt relief, loans, and infrastructure development, since the launch of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000. The Middle East, rich in oil and natural gas, and Australia, abundant in iron ore, zinc, and nickel, also show favorable opinions towards China based on economic cooperation. Australia's positive assessment of China has increased by 17% compared to last year, suggesting that China plays a significant role as a trading partner for Australia's resource exports.

With the Beijing Olympics fast approaching, China is currently the focus of international attention. For China, aiming to transform into a 'truly' developed nation with 2008 as a milestone, the resolution of the Tibetan issue and the successful hosting of the Olympics will be crucial benchmarks for shaping global perceptions of the country. Therefore, this is a time when China's domestic and foreign political acumen is more crucial than ever.