The public perceptions of China in Southeast Asia: a cross-country comparative study

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the public perception of China in Southeast Asian countries from across-country comparative perspective using Asian Barometer Survey data. The comparisons are threefold: an inter-group comparison by demographic factors, an inter-country comparison by SEA countries, and a comparison of the public perceptions of China and other external countries in SEA countries. The results suggest that educational qualification is the most influential positive determinant of the public perception of China in Southeast Asia while there is no significant variation among different social groups in terms of gender, age and quintile income groups. As to cross-country comparison between different SEA countries with regard to the public perceptions of China in their respective countries, Thailand and Vietnam, the two GMS member countries, have significantly better understanding on China than Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The key findings also indicate that the public perception of China is quite similar to that of other world powers, such as the USA and Japan.