Source: PIPA

A new BBC World Service poll reveals that China's influence in the world is seen as mainly positive. China is viewed much more positively than two other major powers, the U.S. and Russia, and on par with Great Britain.

22,953 people were polled in twenty-two countries (excluding China itself).

48% of the people who responded say China's role in the world is "mainly positive" including the country's Asian neighbors.

The countries polled (listed in the order that see China as most to least positive) included: Lebanon, Philippines, Indonesia, India, South Africa, Chile, Australia, Brazil, France, Canada, South Korea, Great Britain, Argentina, Russia, Italy, the United States, Spain, Turkey, Germany, Mexico, Poland and Japan.

Interestingly, more people view China as having a positive influence than the U.S. or Russia.

The U.S. and Russia In Contrast

In contrast to China, Russia is viewed as having a negative influence in the world by citizens of fourteen countries and a positive influence in just five.

An average of 36 percent across all countries view Russia positively and 40 percent negatively.

The U.S. is viewed negatively in fifteen countries, and positively in just six.

An average of 38 percent across all countries view the U.S. positively and 47 percent negatively.

China is virtually on par with Great Britain. On average 50 percent view Britain as having a positive influence as compared to 48 percent for China.

The source of the BBC's polling data came from GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland.

When respondents were asked "Do you think China is having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence on the world?" eleven countries expressed they have a positive perspective.

Lebanon was most positive with 74% of the respondents answering "mainly positive."

The Philippines was close behind with 70% of the respondents answering positively.

The U.S. viewed Chinese influence on the world was more negative than positive. 39% of those polled viewed China's influence as mainly positive. However, 46% viewed their influence as mainly negative.

When it comes to China's economic prowess, the U.S. is relatively indifferent.

Only 19% of those polled from the U.S. see China's military power as positive.

Among the nations most concerned about China's growing economic power are Japan and the U.S., as well as a number of European nations.

66% of those polled in India, one of the Asian neighbors closest in proximity to China, view China positively. Despite a history of border clashes and decades of tensions, India perceives its neighbor more positively than Russia (44%) and Japan (22%) combined.

In no country did a majority of the public have a negative view of China.

Boding well for China's future, young people (18-29) worldwide are much more prone to view China positively (58% on average).

China's Future Economic Power

Source: PIPA

PIPA stated:

Though there has been much focus on the competitive threat from China's enormous potential, China's growing economic power is seen as positive in most countries.

Asked if they think it would be positive or negative if China were to become "significantly more powerful economically than it is today," in sixteen countries a majority (11 countries) or a plurality (5 countries) see it as positive.

Strikingly, this positive view is found in some countries, such as Mexico (54%), whose manufacturing sectors face significant competition with China.

On average 49 percent view it as positive and 33 percent as negative.

In only four countries do a plurality see it as negative -- Italy (47%), Spain (47%), Turkey (42%), and Argentina (41%).

Views are evenly divided in two countries -- the U.S. and Germany.

According to Ted C. Fishman, author of China, Inc. : How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World sees the world's most rapidly changing large economy forcing the world to change along with it.

He says:

No country has ever before made a better run at climbing every step of economic development all at once.

China is currently the largest maker of toys, clothing, and consumer electronics, and is swiftly moving up the ladder in car production, computer manufacturing, biotechnology, aerospace, telecommunications, and other sectors thanks to low-cost, high-tech factories.

China is also where the world is investing.

In 2004, for instance, the city of Shanghai alone attracted over $12 billion in direct foreign investment, roughly the same amount as all of Indonesia and Mexico received.

With the Internet and the expansion of mass media, China is perceived as finally opening up.

Companies like Baidu, the "Google" search engine of China, is helping to make the much of the world's content accessible to the people of China for the first time.

Official figures put the number of Internet users in China at 94 million in 2004.

China's Future Military Power

Most citizens around the world, however, do not want to see Chinese military power grow.

Asked how they would feel if "China becomes significantly more powerful militarily than it is today," in seventeen countries more said that it would be negative.

On average, 59 percent said it would be negative and just 24 percent positive.

Source: PIPA

Dr. Steven Kull, Director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) and the co-author of Misreading the Public: The Myth of a New Isolationism commented:

It is quite remarkable that with its growing economic power China is viewed as so benign, especially by its Asian neighbors that it could threaten or seek to dominate.

However, this cordial view from around the world does appear to depend on China restraining itself from seeking to convert its burgeoning economic power into a threatening military presence.

Doug Miller, President of GlobeScan said:

China clearly has the respect of the world because of its exceptional economic achievements, and most people seem to hope for its continued economic success.

However, with military approaches generally unsupported in today's world, citizens worldwide are hoping China will pursue a soft power route to world influence.

A BBC's profile of China states:

China is the world's most populous country (1.3 billion), with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years.

Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the modern world originated in China, including paper, gunpowder, credit banking, the compass and paper money.

After stagnating for two decades under the rigid authoritarianism of early communist rule, China now has the world's fastest-growing economy and is undergoing what has been described as a second industrial revolution.

In a January 6th 2005 article, The Economist stated:

That China intends to create world-class companies is indisputable.

Appalled by the speed of western development and, rightly, attributing much of that to the success of western corporations, the central government decided some years ago that 30-50 of its best state firms should be built into "national champions" or "globally competitive" multinationals by 2010.

For the entire article, go to:

Chinese citizens are aware that progress will only come if they engage with the rest of the global community.

For an excellent 3/7/05 article by Paul Reynolds' BBC World Affairs correspondent called "Why China Matters So Much" go to:

For the full analysis of the poll conducted for the BBC World Service by the polling organization GlobeScan, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland, go to:

The 22-nation fieldwork was conducted from November 15, 2004 to January 5, 2005.

In eight of the countries the sample was limited to major metropolitan areas.

About GlobeScan

GlobeScan Incorporated is a global public opinion and stakeholder research firm with offices in Toronto, London, and Washington. GlobeScan conducts custom research and annual tracking studies on global issues. With a research network spanning 50+ countries, GlobeScan works with global companies, multilateral agencies, national governments, and non-government organizations to deliver research-based insights for successful strategies.

PIPA

The Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) is a joint program of the Center on Policy Attitudes and the Center for International and Security Studies at the University of Maryland. PIPA undertakes research on attitudes in both the public and in the policymaking community toward a variety of international and foreign policy issues. It seeks to disseminate its findings to members of government, the press, and the public as well as academia.

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