By Jeffrey R. Ambrose
Real Truth - January 1, 2014
China has been pushing into the region in order to continue its economic growth, secure resources, and expand its global political clout.
In the decades since the fall of communist dictator Mao Zedong, global opinion of China has grown gradually more welcoming. While there were setbacks, notably after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, the trend was bolstered by the country’s impressive economic growth and supercharged by the dazzling display of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
For some years, the 1.3-billion-strong nation has been seen by Americans, Chinese and outside observers as a global competitor with the United States.
Where does China stand now in the court of public opinion? A July 2013 Pew Research Forum international survey provides insight: “Since the 2008 financial crisis, perceptions about the economic balance of power in the world have been shifting. Looking at the 20 nations surveyed in both 2008 and 2013, the median percentage naming the U.S. as the world’s leading economic power has declined from 47% to 41%, while the median percentage placing China in the top spot has risen from 20% to 34%.”
Read more.....
