Europeans view China as a strategic partner rather than a rival, according to a new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations.
According to a new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the majority of Europeans would like to remain neutral in the event of a dispute between the US and China over Taiwan.
More than 60% of respondents in 11 EU member states say they would like their country to remain neutral, according to the survey published on Wednesday on European attitudes towards the US, Russia and China.
Survey participants also see China more as a strategic partner rather than an ally, rival or adversary.
This survey shows that the European public’s view of China is more in line with that of French President Emmanuel Macron than that of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the report’s co-authors said in a note.
The French leader was recently criticized for saying that Europe had no interest in speeding up the Taiwan issue and warned that the EU must not become a “follows“on the subject and”adaptation to the American pace and an overreaction from China“.
The ECFR survey indicates that Germany and Sweden are the two countries most optimistic about China.
“Poll results show Europeans’ perception of China has changed surprisingly little compared to 2021 poll results“, write the two authors of the report, Jana Puglierin and Pawel Zerka.
The prevailing view in almost all countries is that China is a “partner needed“From Europe.
But if China starts supplying Russia with weapons, 41% of respondents would be willing to impose sanctions on Beijing.
In Hungary, Austria, Italy and Bulgaria, respondents say they prefer not to impose this type of measure.
A majority also opposes Chinese companies owning bridges, ports, newspapers or technology companies in Europe, according to the survey.
EU autonomy
Europeans’ view of the US as an ally has improved since 2021. But three-quarters of respondents agree that Europe cannot”always trust the USA“and that she needs her own defense skills.
“The main result of our survey is that Europeans want the EU to become more independent in foreign policy and strengthen its own defense capabilities.“, Jana Puglierin analyses.
“These demands are not new to the EU or to the leaders of its member states, but they have been sharpened by the war in Ukraine and growing tensions between the US and China.“.
The Europeans also say that a possible return of Donald Trump would weaken the alliance with the United States.
Russia as an “adversary”
However, the proportion of respondents who see Russia as an adversary or rival of the EU has doubled since 2021, according to the survey.
About 64% of respondents believe that Russia was a “opponent“or one”competitive“, compared to 36% in 2021.
However, in Bulgaria, around 47% of respondents believe that Russia is a “partner needed“with which Europe should cooperate.
Surveys consistently show that Europeans are in favor of EU aid to Ukraine. The latest Eurobarometer poll published on June 6 reveals that more than two-thirds of EU citizens strongly approve or rather support Kiev.
The ECFR inquiry also concerns the future of relations with Moscow.
On average, 48% of Europeans believe that after the war their country should “has a limited relationship“with Russia, while 18% say their country should”exit all links“.
In Bulgaria, a majority of respondents emphasize that their country should have a “fully cooperative relationship” with post-war Russia.
Jana Puglierin adds that he “could be a watershed moment for the EU, and the question arises whether it can reconcile its differences of opinion within itself and move from its dependence on the US to a position that allows it to take its own policy positions.“.
The ECFR survey was conducted online with more than 16,000 adults over the age of 18 in Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
