China’s image slipping further in developed world, survey shows

Increasingly large majorities in the developed world see China unfavorably, with record levels of criticism in the US, Germany and South Korea, a survey said Wednesday.

A 19-nation survey by the Pew Research Center showed a further deterioration of China’s reputation over the past several years, as concerns grow about Beijing’s rising military and economic power, its human rights record and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eighty-two percent of Americans, 80% of South Koreans and 74% of both Germans and Canadians viewed China unfavorably, the survey said – record levels in each country.

China’s unfavorability also hovered around near-record highs of 87 p%rcent in Japan, 86% in Australia and 83% in Sweden.

China’s reputation eroded especially sharply in South Korea, against which Beijing in 2017 launched a campaign of economic retaliation after Seoul and the US set up an anti-missile system that the two allies say is in response to North Korea, not China.

Beijing has also imposed economic punishment over actions by Australia, where concerns have been heightened in recent months after the country spotted Chinese spy ships near its waters.

China’s image fell even in some nations with which it has comparatively warm relationships. A record 50% saw China unfavorably in Greece, which has welcomed major Chinese investment since its economic crisis.

One outlier was Israel, where opinions on China were almost evenly divided and, in contrast to Western nations, most people called for prioritising economic relations even without addressing human rights.

The survey took answers from 24,525 adults from Feb 14 to June 3.