The Clash in Public Opinion between Europe and China： What, How and Why

Recent years have seen a tension between Europe and China in public opinion, which began in 2006 and climaxed in 2008 when the Tibet riots and the Beijing Olympics put China under the global spotlight. Europeans and Chinese view each other more negatively than in ＂the good old days＂ and there is a growing perception gap regarding the Chinese government. The media （including the Internet） and public opinion leaders （scholars, human rights activists, dissidents, politicians and diplomats） have played a part in causing this both in Europe and in China, and this paper examines their roles. This paper also identifies three reasons behind the clash of viewpoints： First, lack of common values has exacerbated Europe＇s fear of a rising China; second, both Europe and China use this hostility to help redefine their self-identity; third, different development needs in China and Europe have nurtured very different mindsets. In the future, the European public＇s interest in China will continue to grow and Europe＇s and China＇s perceptions of each other will gradually stabilize. In the long run, whether Europe will accept a rising China depends on China＇s ability to develop a ＂Chinese thinking＂ which suits both China＇s and the world＇s development needs.

The Clash in Public Opinion between Europe and China:What, How and Why

Recent years have seen a tension between Europe and China in public opinion,which began in 2006 and climaxed in 2008 when the Tibet riots and the Beijing Olympics put China under the global spotlight.Europeans and Chinese view each other more negatively than in"the good old days"and there is a growing perception gap regarding the Chinese government.The media(including the Internet)and public opinion leaders(scholars,human rights activists,dissidents,politicians and diplomats)have played a part in causing this both in Europe and in China,and this paper examines their roles.This paper also identifies three reasons behind the clash of viewpoints: First,lack of common values has exacerbated Europe's fear of a rising China; second,both Europe and China use this hostility to help redefine their self-identity; third,different development needs in China and Europe have nurtured very different mindsets.In the future,the European public's interest in China will continue to grow and Europe's and China's perceptions of each other will gradually stabilize.In the long run,whether Europe will accept a rising China depends on China's ability to develop a"Chinese thinking"which suits both China's and the world's development needs.