China has manifested growing strength in China-US competition, and that the essence of the trade war initiated by the US is targeted toward the economy and high technology, a Global Times' survey showed.
The survey further revealed some countries have clearly realised the US' hegemony and China's indomitable fight against the US' hegemony has been recognised worldwide.
The poll was conducted from November 20 to December 3 by the Global Times' Global Poll Centre wherein the respondents were residents aged above 18 in 17 countries across five continents including China, the US, UK, France, and Japan. The poll collected response to 17,496 questionnaires.
While selecting the countries, the survey took into account the newly-emerging economies, important neighbouring countries, major world powers, developing countries and countries along the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Around 59 per cent of residents in 17 countries surveyed believed that China-US relations are the most influential bilateral relation in today's world. The survey showed that the influence of China-US relations on public opinions could to some extent prevent the two countries from falling into the trap of conflicts and confrontations. And mutual respect, understanding and joint development conform to the global mainstream opinion.
The trade war initiated by the US is the most high-profile head-to-head tiff between China and the US in 2019.
The survey showed that almost 60 per cent of the respondents believe China's strength has mounted dramatically during the China-US friction although the US is still in a strong position, up 11.4 per cent compared with the 2018 survey.
The acknowledgment of China's growing strength in the wake of the China-US battle is a reflection of the 17 countries' residents recognising the growth of China's overall national strength and global position.
Nature of trade war
In response to the question regarding the nature of the China-US trade war, around 40 per cent chose the economic battle, around 35 per cent chose technology, around 31 per cent went for the containment of China while the rest opined trade protectionism.
More than 62 per cent of Kenyan respondents agreed that the nature of the China-US trade war is essentially a competition in high technologies. The percentage of respondents agreeing with the idea exceed 40 per cent in some other countries including South Africa, Spain, India and Indonesia.
The US is containing China's technological development by increasing tariffs on China's high-tech products. But the international community has recognised China's technological capacity and agreed that technological competition is the core of the China-US trade war.
Meanwhile, some respondents deemed the trade war as China's fight back against the US' hegemony, including 42 per cent from Egypt, 37 per cent from China and 32 per cent from South Korea, mirroring similar thoughts. The data demonstrate that some countries have clearly espied the US' hegemony and paid more attention to China's resistance.
On the future course of the trade war, only 8.3 per cent of the Chinese respondents think it will be solved anytime soon through negotiations with 28 per cent of the US respondents agreeing with them. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of Chinese respondents and 33 per cent of US respondents worry that the trade war would worsen.
US global image decline
The poll also shows that the US' image in the international arena and its influence has declined in recent years, reflecting a continuation of the world's dissatisfaction with the US.
The poll shows 55.5 per cent of respondents from 17 countries believe that the US' international image is deteriorating; while 12.8 per cent think its image remains the same.
For US respondents, 41.2 per cent believe their country's image is worsening, and the view was mirrored by 82.1 per cent Chinese respondents. Many of those surveyed in the Western world, including 72 per cent from Germany, 72 per cent from Spain and 67.3 per cent from France hold negative views toward the US.
Only 20.3 per cent of 17 countries' respondents believe the US' international image is improving. 7.6 per cent of Chinese respondents share such opinions. Japan, as one of the closest allies of the US, has only 6.8 per cent of respondents who see the US' international image improving.
Among the respondents, an overwhelming 95.9 per cent Chinese and 60 per cent American respondents believe the US passing a series of legislation targeting China is an act of interference in China's domestic affairs. More than 80 per cent of respondents in Ukraine and Kenya; 78.3 per cent from Russia and 74 per cent from Indonesia echo a similar view.
Many Western media deemed the social unrest in Hong Kong as "fighting for democracy and freedom;" while portraying similar violent protests in the Western world as "riots." A segment in the survey includes whether the Western media are showing double standards in those reports. 90.5 per cent Chinese respondents voted in affirmative; 41.4 per cent of the US respondents agreed; 55.6 per cent of those surveyed voted yes. Respondents in Spain, in particular, feel the different media treatment with 63.9 per cent voted pro, suspected due to the country's Catalan protests.
The dissatisfaction has been mostly triggered by US officials' controversial remarks and actions, including the US hegemonism and power politics, and its interference in other countries' internal affairs. The US diplomatic policies treading on other countries' interests, and trade disputes provoked by the US, have heightened the common negative impacts.