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Pew Research On Attitudes Towards China: It’s About Trade
By Paul Midler | December 19, 2007
The Pew Research Center has published a survey of global attitudes towards China. It’s a simple barometer that asks citizens of various countries whether they have a favorable or unfavorable view. The survey suggests that attitudes are connected to politics, but I see a more direct trade-related link.
Economies that have seen their export sectors devastated have strong negative views towards China. Turkey is one telling example with 53% expressing a negative view. Turkey used to make for Europe many products, but much of that has now gone to China.
Similarly, Italian goods are being made in China, and negative views on China are at 61%. Germany and Japan are both strongly negative towards China, and I think this is about a weakened industrial base in both of those economies.
On the positive side now. In South America, the Chileans are 62% in favor of China. I doubt that Chile has lost anyting to China. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I know that China is buying a lot of Chilean wines. Chilean is among my favorite wine in China, and the price-to-quality ratio is on target. I don’t know what else is happening in Chile except wine, but I’m guessing Chile is an easy beneficiary of China’s rise and that few domestic industries are being turned upside down as a result of China’s advantage.
Topics: China |
December 20th, 2007 at 12:56 am
I’d be curious to see African attitudes.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Because S.A. has an economy and a growing middle class that they are not on the China bandwagon of “build my railways”, “make my roads”, “displace my peasants with your Fujianese small time shop operators”??
December 21st, 2007 at 12:25 am
Years ago when I was in college the buzz was “Japan as Number 1.” Then everyone thought Japan was on its way to edge the US out of its role as top trading partner, etc.
That theory never came to fruition. Now the talk is about China, and rightly so, go given the state of the American economy, the lead-tainted products that come into in and the other cheap products that fuel 99cents stores,across the country. Not to mention how well they serve America’s new poor middle class as their economic status diminishes.
China is taking advantage of what is! Until we get our trading house in order, China will quietly continue to do what it does well. Take our jobs, at the end day– leaving nothing but cheap trinkets (unusable) in exchange; so that as we slide into a Third world status and they March forward, even if under a false premise to “First world”.
Who are largely responsible? You get it right, our elected officials. China once called us a Paper Tiger– we have helped them to confirm that? And by our terms. Unbelievable!!
http://manchestersquare.blogspot.com
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:56 am
Hit the nail on the head, Kit.