Major Shaitan Singh
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By Richard Wike, Special to CNN
Editors note: Richard Wike is associate director of the Pew Global Attitudes Project. The views expressed are his own.
Tensions are mounting between China and its Asian neighbors, most recently overlong-disputed territories in the South China and East China Seas. At the same time, the negative coverage that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received in state-run Chinese media during her trip to Beijing last month underscored ongoing differences between China and the U.S. on a host of issues. But tensions like these are not just apparent at the diplomatic level or in government propaganda. Now, as China prepares for its once-in-a-decade leadership transition, the Chinese public is increasingly hostile toward rival nations, according to polling by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. This can only complicate Beijings relations with its neighbors and global rivals in the years ahead.
In particular, Chinese sentiment about the U.S. has cooled over the last few years. In 2010, 68 percent of Chinese characterized their countrys relationship with the U.S. as one of cooperation, while just 8 percent said it was one of hostility. Now, only 39 percent describe ties in terms of cooperation and 26 percent say they are hostile.
But the U.S. isnt the only country getting negative reviews from the Chinese. The current Pew Global Attitudes survey, which is based on a disproportionately urban sample in China, finds that opinions about India have also soured. Today, 39 percent describe Chinas relationship with India as one of cooperation, down from 53 percent in 2010. The Chinese are also much more skeptical about whether economic growth in India is a good thing for China in 2010, six in ten held this view, but only 44 percent do so now.
Views about Japan are even more negative. Roughly four-in-ten (41 percent) say the relationship with Japan is one of hostility, while just 30 percent describe it in terms of cooperation. Meanwhile, the EU, Pakistan, and Iran all also receive largely negative ratings from the Chinese public. Of all the countries and institutions respondents were asked to rate, Russia gets the highest marks. Still, less than half (48 percent) view Russia favorably.
China
Editors note: Richard Wike is associate director of the Pew Global Attitudes Project. The views expressed are his own.
Tensions are mounting between China and its Asian neighbors, most recently overlong-disputed territories in the South China and East China Seas. At the same time, the negative coverage that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received in state-run Chinese media during her trip to Beijing last month underscored ongoing differences between China and the U.S. on a host of issues. But tensions like these are not just apparent at the diplomatic level or in government propaganda. Now, as China prepares for its once-in-a-decade leadership transition, the Chinese public is increasingly hostile toward rival nations, according to polling by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. This can only complicate Beijings relations with its neighbors and global rivals in the years ahead.
In particular, Chinese sentiment about the U.S. has cooled over the last few years. In 2010, 68 percent of Chinese characterized their countrys relationship with the U.S. as one of cooperation, while just 8 percent said it was one of hostility. Now, only 39 percent describe ties in terms of cooperation and 26 percent say they are hostile.
But the U.S. isnt the only country getting negative reviews from the Chinese. The current Pew Global Attitudes survey, which is based on a disproportionately urban sample in China, finds that opinions about India have also soured. Today, 39 percent describe Chinas relationship with India as one of cooperation, down from 53 percent in 2010. The Chinese are also much more skeptical about whether economic growth in India is a good thing for China in 2010, six in ten held this view, but only 44 percent do so now.
Views about Japan are even more negative. Roughly four-in-ten (41 percent) say the relationship with Japan is one of hostility, while just 30 percent describe it in terms of cooperation. Meanwhile, the EU, Pakistan, and Iran all also receive largely negative ratings from the Chinese public. Of all the countries and institutions respondents were asked to rate, Russia gets the highest marks. Still, less than half (48 percent) view Russia favorably.
China