According to a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center, a majority of Americans lack confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ability to manage world affairs effectively. The survey results, which come at a time when China’s influence is rapidly growing globally, shed light on Americans’ attitudes towards China’s leadership and their perception of the country’s role in shaping the world order. In this article, we will delve into the key findings of the Pew survey and explore the reasons behind this widespread lack of confidence among Americans in Xi Jinping’s leadership.
A poll conducted by the Pew Research Center has revealed that most U.S. adult respondents have little confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping when it comes to “doing the right thing regarding world affairs.” The study, which covered over 3,500 U.S. adults in March, comes as tensions between the U.S. and China escalate to the point of limited bilateral interaction. However, more than half of people in the U.S. believe that the two nations can collaborate on trade and economic policies.
While Xi is seeking to bolster China’s global influence, most respondents took a pessimistic view of China’s leader. Nearly half of the respondents, or 47%, had “no confidence at all” in Xi’s ability to handle world affairs well. A further 30% said they had “not too much confidence.” Over three-quarters of those surveyed believe that China does not take the interests of countries such as the U.S. into account and that China interferes in the affairs of other nations. More than half of the respondents also believed that China does not contribute to global peace and stability. This goes against China’s narrative that it is a contributor to world peace and economic development.
Despite the lack of confidence in Xi’s leadership, U.S.-China economic cooperation was one area where the respondents were more optimistic. Just over half of those surveyed believe that the two countries can collaborate on trade and economic policies. Student exchange programs were the only other area where more than half of respondents believed that the two nations could collaborate.
However, the poll showed a general pessimistic view when it comes to areas where the U.S. and China could potentially cooperate. Out of five areas listed in the survey, only two resulted in more than half of the respondents expressing optimism: trade and economic policy and student exchange programs. The other three areas, which saw more than half of the respondents expressing pessimism, were resolving international conflicts, climate change policy, and dealing with the spread of infectious diseases.
The Biden administration has expressed that the U.S. is in competition with China and has imposed export bans on critical semiconductor technology to China. Meanwhile, the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Chinese goods and blacklisted Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The latest Pew survey found that almost half of the respondents believe that China is receiving more benefits from the bilateral trade relationship, and over 80% believed that China’s growing technological power is a serious problem for the U.S.
While China has accounted for over 15% of global GDP in recent years and is expected to overtake the U.S. economy in the coming years, the Pew survey indicates that most Americans believe China does not take U.S. interests into account and interferes in the affairs of other nations. This lack of confidence in Xi’s leadership regarding world affairs could be attributed to the different perceptions and narratives held by China and the U.S. regarding global peace and stability.
