The latest study from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Canadian favourability towards China at a new low.
Indeed, just 14 per cent 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%).
The deterioration comes as Beijing faces accusations from United States intelligence that it intentionally hid the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in the early days of the pandemic. Others have expressed skepticism regarding the true number of Chinese cases and deathsfrom the illness.
More than four-in-five (85%) Canadians say the Chinese government has not been honest about what has happened in its own country.
Canadian opinion towards China has significantly declined since that government arrested and detained two Canadians in prison, in a tit-for-tat reaction to Canada’s arrest – and subsequent release on bail – of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.
If Canadians had their way, there would be real-world consequences to perceived malfeasance on the part of the Asian power. Just 11 per cent of Canadians say Canada should focus its trade efforts on China, down from 40 per cent in 2015. Further, four-in-five say Canada should bar Huawei from taking part in the building of new 5G infrastructure in this country.
More Key Findings:
- Asked about the country’s approach to relations with China, three-quarters of Canadians (76%) say Canada should prioritize human rights and the rule of law over economic opportunity
- The United States’ favourability among Canadians has now dropped to 38 per cent – plummeting to a 40-year record-low
- Among a list of Canada’s major trading partners, the European Union emerges as the top choice (52%) to develop closer trade ties, though, notably, support for increasing trade with the U.S. has also risen 9 points since 2019 (now at 37%)
Read the rest of the story here: www.angusreid.org