Tourism and technology may hold key to boosting China’s public image in the US
China could improve its image in the United States by highlighting areas such as tourism and technology and positioning itself as a responsible major power, a survey has concluded. Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou said that although concepts such as “decoupling” and “de-risking” had been increasingly prominent in media coverage of China, this had not entirely wiped away…
A recent survey conducted by Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou suggests that China could enhance its image among the American public by focusing on tourism and technology. Despite the prevalence of terms like "decoupling" and "de-risking" in media coverage, the study found that many respondents still held positive views of the country.
When rating China's strengths on a scale from 1 to 5, global influence topped the list with a score of 4.38, followed by advancements in science and technology (3.59) and higher education (3.56). The researchers believe that China should emphasize its role in maintaining global peace, stability, and governance by highlighting its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, climate change efforts, and humanitarian aid.
To combat negative perceptions, the study recommends addressing misunderstandings and skepticism in international media through increased transparency and openness. The American public appears particularly interested in issues such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Tibet, which are typically associated with topics like human rights, separatism, the environment, and cultural preservation.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has never ruled out using force to reunify it. The United States, along with most other nations, does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state but opposes any form of military intervention. The researchers also suggest that China should present a more diverse range of perspectives on areas with significant ethnic minority populations.
The findings echo a recent Pew Research Center survey in the US, which revealed a growing number of Americans with a favorable view of China. Although negative opinions remained prevalent, 27% of respondents expressed a positive opinion of China, an increase of 6 percentage points compared to the previous year, and nearly double the level recorded in 2023.
Similarly, the Sun Yat-sen University survey uncovered a strong public interest in non-political aspects of China, with science and technology emerging as the most intriguing area, cited by 58.2% of American respondents. Tourism and food also garnered high interest, tied at 56.6%. The study emphasizes that international outreach efforts should prioritize technology and tourism, while also focusing on human-interest stories surrounding scientific advancements and their global benefits.
The researchers believe that this approach could counteract anxiety surrounding tech competition, often portrayed negatively by some US media outlets, and encourage Americans to recognize the positive contributions of technological cooperation on a global scale. For tourism, the researchers advise creating high-quality promotional content on social media platforms and inviting influencers to experience daily life in China firsthand.
Last year, American live-streamer IShowSpeed (real name Darren Watkins) embarked on a tour of several Chinese cities, showcasing the country's advanced infrastructure and smart technology. His live-streams garnered around 10 million views in total, with some viewers commenting that China was "on another level," which was widely considered a soft-power triumph for the nation.
The study was based on an online poll conducted by Sun Yat-sen University, which sampled 1,327 American adults, with an average age of 32.8 and a relatively even gender distribution.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
