WASHINGTON: Public opinion on China is negative across Western Europe and its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region, a survey has revealed.
Similarly, over 60 percent of respondents had negative views on China in Canada and the United States, according to a new survey by Pew Research Centre, a Washington-based think tank.
According to the survey, the protracted trade tensions between China and the US and the arrest of Chinese tech giant Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada have been the major factors.
The think tank interviewed a total of 34,904 people in 32 countries from May 12 to August 29 this year for the survey.
In Western Europe, the majority (around 70 percent) of respondents in Sweden, had an unfavorable opinion on China. It was 53 percent in Spain.
Meanwhile, opinion was divided in Eastern and Central Europe, where Beijing has increased its investment.
In Poland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania, respondents held favorable views on China, however, several Slovaks and Czechs who were surveyed had negative comments.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the survey results were unfavorable. Over 85 percent of Japanese, 57 percent in Australia and 63 percent of South Koreans had a negative opinion on China. Likewise, 54 percent in the Philippines were negative.
According to the report, the opinion of China has fallen across the region.
Meanwhile, China has maintained a positive reputation in Russia. Over 71 percent of the respondents had a favorable view of China. In Ukraine, the proportion was 57 percent.
In Latin America, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, the survey found a majority of people having positive views on China. (Agencies)
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