Chinese, "Sino-Russian Relations Most Important"... What About Sino-American Relations?

State-run Global Times Conducts Survey of 2,282 Adults
Rising Favorability Toward Russia... 'China-US Relations Important' Ranks 4th

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin, met last September in Uzbekistan. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] It has been revealed that Chinese people consider their relationship with Russia to be the most important in diplomacy.

On the 26th, the state-run Global Times announced the results of a public opinion survey titled "Chinese People's Worldview," conducted from December 8 to 15 among 2,282 adults aged 18 to 69 in 16 major cities nationwide, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shenyang, and Qingdao. The survey asked respondents to select multiple answers regarding the most important bilateral relationships for China.

The survey results showed that respondents identified Russia as the most important bilateral relationship for China. The response that the relationship with Russia is the most important ranked first for two consecutive years, including last year and this year. Despite the Russia-Ukraine war and the resulting sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western countries, the percentage of respondents increased from 55.6% last year to 58.4% this year.

Following Russia, the European Union (EU) ranked second with 45.9%, and Southeast Asia ranked third with 39.7%. The response that the relationship with the United States is important had consistently ranked first since this media outlet began the survey in 2006 until 2020. However, last year it dropped to third place behind Russia and the EU for the first time, and this year it fell further to fourth place, behind Southeast Asia. The percentage of respondents who considered China-US relations important was only 36.8%, more than 20% lower than for Russia.

Survey participants also expressed unfavorable views toward the US administration and political parties. More than half of the respondents said they disliked the Joe Biden administration (59.8%), the Republican Party (52.6%), and the Democratic Party (51%). Regarding the US media, 38.3% said they "dislike" it, while 42.8% chose "neutral." Only 13.2% of respondents said they liked the US media.

When asked about China-US relations since the Biden administration took office, the most common response at 35.2% was "peaceful on the surface but fighting underneath," and 30.4% said "conflicts continue," indicating that Chinese people generally hold a negative view of current China-US relations.

However, unlike politics, more than 50% of respondents said they "like" American sports leagues such as the NBA and American movies and TV series.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.