eu public perceptions of china and policy implications

1

EU Public Perceptions of China and Policy Implications

George Cunningham,European External Action Service

Glasgow University, 31 October 2012

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Discussion points

• The EU-China relationship• Historic Chinese migration to Europe• China in Europe’s media• Public opinion polling on China• Sum up and policy implications

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The Evolving EU-China Relationship

4

5

‘People-to-People’ Dialogue

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Historic Chinese Migration to Europe

7

China in Europe’s media

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‘Do you have a favourable view of China?’

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

-60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Spain

Spain

France

France

Germany

Germany

PolandPo-land

Italy

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2012

favo

urab

le

unfa

vour

able

UK

UKGreece

Czech Rep.

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‘Do you believe that China is fair or unfair in its trade relations with other countries?’ (%)

Fair Neutral Unfair ‘Depends'/'Don't Know'

Italy 29 20 51 0UK 23 23 44 10Spain 22 15 51 12Germany 19 19 56 6France 12 28 59 1

Source: Globescan/Pipa, 2010-2011

10

China becoming more powerful economically

Source: Globescan/Pipa, 2010-2011

Germany

Italy

France

UK

Spain

28

38

42

52

52

19

5

5

7

11

53

57

53

41

37

Positive Series2 Negative

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USA vs. China: the world’s leading economic superpower

2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

UK, 28

UK, 58

France; 29

France; 57

Germany; 13

Germany; 62

Spain; 26

Spain; 57

Poland; 35Poland; 35

%

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2012

USA China

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German Opinion: The World’s Leading Economic Superpower

2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

USA; 13

China; 62

EU; 17

%

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2012

13

China becoming more powerful militarily

Germany

Italy

France

UK

Spain

2

15

22

25

34

10

4

7

6

9

88

81

71

69

57

Positive Series2 Negative

Source: Globescan/Pipa, 2010-2011

‘The EU and China have the same interests when dealing with globalisation?’ (%)

Source: Eurobarometer, 201014

DenmarkLuxembourg

FranceSweden

GermanySloveniaBelgium

NetherlandsFinland

Czech RepublicUK

SpainAustria

SlovakiaGreeceLatvia

ItalyIrelandPolandEstonia

HungaryPortugal

MaltaCyprus

LithuaniaBulgariaRomania

1917

1417

2019

282626

241919

3331

4222

2915

2725

4231

932

2822

25

7168

6765

6462

6058

5656

5450

4847

4645

4444

4242

3836

3332

3126

25

Total 'Disagree' Total 'Agree'

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‘Will China replace the USA as the world’s largest superpower?’

Source: Pew Global Attitudes Project, 2011

Will never replace the US Will eventually replace the US Has already the replaced US0

10

20

30

40

50

60

UKFranceGermanySpain Poland

%

16

Country Public Perceptions

17

Policy Implications

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Thank You

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang visits Brussels, May 2012