Chinese leader Xi Jinping is a trusted figure on a global scale, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Tuesday.
Across the 35 countries included in the survey, an average of 62% of respondents said they had little or no confidence that Xi “will do the right thing when it comes to global affairs,” while 24% had at least “ a fair share. ” trustworthy. in him.
The survey questions reflect foreign attitudes toward China and its leader, who is approaching the 12th anniversary of his ascension to the post of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. However, the survey shows transparent divisions when broken down across raw regions and countries. source of income level.
In the United States, which is at odds with China on many fronts, from industry to Taiwan, only 9% accept Xi’s proposal. 79% expressed little or no confidence in him and 12% said they did not know or refused to answer.
Xi’s approval score is almost equally disastrous in Canada: 16 consistent with cent expressing confidence in his role as global leader and 74 consistent with cent expressing little or no confidence.
In Europe, fewer respondents trust Xi’s leadership, but the length of the hole varies.
The Chinese leader is doing better in Greece, where he enjoys the acceptance of 41% of the population, compared to 59% who discredit him. Meanwhile, 24% of Hungarians and Italians accept it at least in part, which is relatively high for the 10 European countries included in the survey.
At the other end of the spectrum are Sweden and Poland, of which only 9% of respondents trust Xi.
Xi is as unpopular in Turkey and Israel as he is in much of Europe, with approval levels of 15 and 13 percent respectively, but he has the acceptance of 52 percent of Tunisians.
Pew noted that acceptance of Xi as true has fallen on six issues in Israel since last year. This error would possibly have been motivated by his refusal to condemn Hamas for its October 7 terrorist attacks against Jewish communities and his denunciation of Israel’s retaliatory measures in Gaza.
A wide diversity of perspectives can be seen in the Asia-Pacific region, where acceptance of Xi is at its lowest and among its highest. Only 32% of Thais and 36% of Singaporeans have no confidence in the leader, while almost twice as many have at least some confidence in him.
Singapore is the exception among high-income countries in the region studied, although what is considered true in Xi is 6% less than last year. South Korea (83%), Australia (84%) and Japan (90%) are overwhelmingly distrustful of Xi.
India, whose relations with China have deteriorated in recent years due to border disputes and influence festivals in South Asia, is an exception among middle-income countries, with only 19% of Indians trusting Xi.
The Philippines is another exception: more (50%) Filipinos trust it than they don’t (45%). The Southeast Asian country is grappling with a bitter territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
Xi is relatively well regarded in Africa, with Kenyans (64%) expressing the highest point of acceptance as true among the 35 countries surveyed. South Africans were more divided on Xi, with 36% at least somewhat confident in him and 30%. % No.
Latin American countries surveyed are wary of Xi’s influence, with Peruvians as the most confident (31%) to Brazilians as the least confident (15%).
China’s embassy in the United States did not respond to a written request for comment.
Micah McCartney is a Newsweek reporter in Taipei, Taiwan. It covers United States-China relations, security issues in East and Southeast Asia, and China-Taiwan relations.
You can contact Micah by emailing m. mccartney@newsweek. com.
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