4 in 5 Canadians dislike and distrust China, poll finds

Authored by thinkpol.ca and submitted by flatmanandribbon
image for 4 in 5 Canadians dislike and distrust China, poll finds

Four in five people in Canada view China unfavourably, while even more agree that the Chinese government has not been transparent or honest about the COVID-19 situation in that country, the latest study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds.

Just 14% of adults in this country now say they have a positive opinion of China, a level half as high as it was six months ago (29%) as the Communist Party of China faces accusations from Western intelligence agencies that Beijing hid the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in the early days of the pandemic and pressured WHO to underreport the severity of the impending coronavirus pandemic .

Canadian public opinion towards China, which had been on the decline since 2017, dropped precipitously after Beijing arbitrarily arrested and detained two Canadians in a tit-for-tat reaction to Canada’s arrest – and subsequent release on bail – of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.

The dislike for and the distrust of China is a non-partisan issue, as Conservative, Liberal and NDP voters all overwhelmingly hold a negative view of that country.

Three-quarters of Canadians say Canada should prioritize human rights and the rule of law over economic opportunity.

Canadians’ view of their neighbour the south is also becoming less favourable.

Just 38% of Canadians now say they hold a favourable view of the United States – Canada’s largest trading partner.

The decline has been largely attributed to the widely unpopular term of President Trump, and may now be exacerbated by his administration’s widely criticized response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Canadians are becoming more wary of China and the United States, the European Union has been winning the war on hearts and minds.

The majority of Canadians view the EU as the top choice to develop closer trade ties among Canada’s major trading partners.

Coolsbreeze on May 13rd, 2020 at 19:46 UTC »

I don't dislike China, I dislike the CCP in control of China.

someguywhossomewhere on May 13rd, 2020 at 18:51 UTC »

Recently declassified cable from June 4th 1989, Tiananmen Square, to give an idea of the ethics and humanity of the government in power

" APCS OPENED FIRE ON THE CROWD (BOTH CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS) BEFORE RUNNING OVER THEM IN THEIR APCS. "

" STUDENTS LINKED ARMS BUT WERE MOWN DOWN INCLUDING SOLDIERS. APCS THEN RAN OVER BODIES TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO MAKE QUOTE PIE UNQUOTE AND REMAINS COLLECTED BY BULLDOZER. REMAINS INCINERATED AND THEN HOSED DOWN DRAINS. "

" 4 WOUNDED GIRL STUDENTS BEGGED FOR THEIR LIVES BUT WERE BAYONETED. A 3 YEAR OLD GIRL WAS INJURED BUT HER MOTHER WAS SHOT AS SHE WENT TO HER AID AS WERE SIX OTHERS WHO TRIED. "

" ARMY SNIPERS SHOT MANY CIVILIANS ON BALCONIES, STREETSWEEPERS ETC FOR TARGET PRACTICE. BEIJING HOSPITALS HAD BEEN ORDERED TO ACCEPT ONLY SECURITY FORCE CASULTIES. "

Know that China's head of state at the time actually supported the protesters. After the events, he was removed along with anyone else in any rank of government that had showed support for the protesters. If anything, the current government is much more ingrained in hardliner idealism than the one 30 years ago.

Edit [9 hours after posting]: I would like to add, please do not mistake my condemnation of the Chinese government for that of Chinese people. Please avoid making general statements against Chinese people as a whole. Avoid falling into the argument traps and jingoism. I myself have travelled to China on multiple occasions and have personally been to Tiananmen Square. The people I have met have all been lovely and welcoming. Please do not misplace contempt directed towards their government unto them. It is normal to feel emotional when discovering such atrocities for the first time; Please do not take out your anger on normal citizens that happen to be ethnically Chinese. Any hateful acts being committed towards the Chinese people, either in Canada or anywhere else should, be condemned.

valiantedwardo on May 13rd, 2020 at 18:11 UTC »

I think it should be clear, dislike and distrust the Chinese government. Not the people. Probably the worst government today in terms of oppression, censorship, and subjugation of minority groups.