China's Global Approval Ratings Are In

For the first time since the BBC started tracking global views in 2005, the United States' influence in the world is now more positive than negative on average. Fine. So where does China stand in the grand scheme of things?

As you might expect, it depends on who's spinning the data as well as who you ask.


China Daily unequivocally says that "China's image has seen an upswing after hitting a low last year," with 41% of nations polled seeing China as having a positive influence on the world. The survey, conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA among more than 29,000 adults, asked respondents to say whether they considered the influence of different countries in the world to be mostly positive or mostly negative.

The fun starts when you look at the details, with significant year-on-year shifts in views of China within different countries.

For example, China's image improved considerably in such countries as the Philippines. While in 2009 a majority (52%) took a negative view, this has dropped 21 points. Now a majority (55%) has a positive view (up 16 points).

Japan's attitude witnessed a remarkable change, with those holding a negative view dropping from 59% to 38%, while those holding a positive view soared from 8 to 18%.

Europe continues to be the region that is the most negative toward China, but negative views have softened in Portugal (now 54%, down from 62%), and France (64%, down from 70%). In addition, positive views have increased among Germans (now 20%, up from 11%), although a large majority (71%) remains negative.

The U.S.'s attitude toward China remains roughly unchanged, with 51% holding a negative view. The report, curiously, did not give a figure for those holding a positive view.

All told, China ranks 11th in the 28 countries or regions mentioned in the poll, behind Germany, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Brazil, the United States, South Africa and India.
You can read about poll methodology here.

By Ray Kwong
Ray Kwong is a cross border business development geek and a Forbes contributing writer.

Source: http://newscri.be/link/1082961