A global study by Pew Research Center — 67% said they had negative feelings about China foreign policy and global role, which was way below the disapproval levels in Quad partners countries Japan, Australia, and the United States — with 87 per cent, 87 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively
A recent global study conducted by the Pew Research Center has shed light on the differing attitudes towards China’s foreign policy and behavior on the international stage among various countries, particularly India and its Quad partner nations. Surprisingly, despite facing violent border skirmishes with the Chinese military in recent years, including the tragic Galwan Valley incident resulting in the loss of 20 Indian soldiers and potential territory, Indians appear to be relatively softer in their disapproval of China.
According to the Pew Research Center’s poll, around 67% of Indians expressed negative feelings about China’s foreign policy and global role. While this might seem significant, it pales in comparison to the levels of disapproval recorded in other Quad partner countries, namely Japan, Australia, and the United States, where disapproval rates reached 87%, 87%, and 83%, respectively.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that high-income countries, including the Quad partners and nations like Sweden, Canada, France, and the Netherlands, exhibited a higher level of negativity towards China, with a median of 74%. In contrast, countries with middle and lower-income populations, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico, and Argentina, reported considerably lower levels of negativity.
Among India’s fellow BRICS partners, South Africa and Brazil displayed relatively less antipathy towards China, with 40% and 48% respectively expressing negative sentiments.
The Pew survey also delved into specific perceptions of China’s actions. A majority of respondents (57%) believed that China interferes in the affairs of other countries. Moreover, a significant proportion (71%) felt that China does not contribute to global peace and stability, while an even higher percentage (76%) believed that China does not consider the interests of other nations.
The poll covered 30,861 adults from 24 countries and was conducted in February-March. The data collection methods varied across countries, including phone surveys in some nations and online panels in others.
India’s last poll in 2019, conducted before the Galwan Valley clashes and the Covid-19 pandemic, showed only 46% of respondents holding negative views of China. Therefore, the subsequent 21 percentage point increase is notable, though not surprising given the growing hostility towards China in other countries, particularly among the Quad partners whose primary focus is containing and countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pew Research Center’s Associate Director of Research, Laura Silver, noted that India’s 67% unfavorable view of China is not significantly different from high-income countries, where the median unfavorable view stands at 74%. Silver suggested that the increase in negative views over the last four years in India might be influenced by the border dispute with China.
Overall, the Pew poll emphasized that attitudes towards China are “broadly negative,” with 67% of adults expressing unfavorable views of the country, while only 28% maintain a favorable opinion. The survey’s findings were released on July 27, providing valuable insights into the complex dynamics of global attitudes towards China’s foreign policies and actions.
*******************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com
