The British BBC reported that, according to the latest survey by the American Pew Research Center, people around the world view China more favorably than the United States. This is the first time the organization has recorded such a result since it began its long-term monitoring of global public opinion.
The independent survey was conducted from February to May of this year and involved over 42,000 respondents from 36 countries. In 25 of these countries, residents have a more favorable view of China than they do of the United States. According to the Pew Center, this is the largest shift in trend since 2002, when it began regularly tracking global public opinion on both countries.
The results show that positive perceptions of China have reached historically high levels in several countries. In contrast, the international image of the United States continues to weaken, according to the survey. A positive view of China is particularly prevalent in middle-income countries.
The survey recorded historically high popularity of China in countries such as Italy, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Turkey. The most significant shift in public opinion in favor of China occurred in Spain, Indonesia, Italy, Greece, and Canada.
In only six of the surveyed countries do residents have a more favorable view of the United States. These are primarily traditional American allies, specifically Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel.
Several other institutions have conducted similar global surveys in recent years. A Gallup poll last year also showed that global support for China has surpassed support for the United States. The difference in ratings between the two countries was the largest in 20 years.
According to analysts, the latest results from the Pew Research Center are not surprising. The instability of American foreign policy, frequent use of military force, and related economic consequences raise concerns in many countries.
During the period when the survey was conducted, the United States, according to the original report, attempted to acquire autonomous Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and launched military operations against Venezuela and Iran. A total of 75 percent of respondents believe that the United States significantly or substantially interferes in the affairs of other countries.
In contrast, China's activities are described in the text as predictable and systematic. According to the survey, residents of many countries increasingly associate China's development with positive phenomena, including technological progress and economic modernization.
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