Survey shows Chinese citizens mistrust the Japanese

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Ida Torres in National with 11 Comments
Survey shows Chinese citizens mistrust the Japanese

The results and conclusion aren’t that surprising, but still worth noting. In a survey of 1,000 Chinese and 1,000 Japanese citizens conducted by Kyodo News, an overwhelming 2/3 of those surveyed said they were boycotting Japanese products in protest for the government purchase of the much contested Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands.

79% of the Chinese respondents believe that what the Japanese government did was “incomprehensible” and 24% participated in the various anti-Japanese protests and boycotts that happened all over the country. However, 74% said that the protests, which turned violent a few times, “went too far”. 32% of the Chinese surveyed said that the Japanese were trustworthy while a very lowly 5% of the Japanese respondents think that the Chinese themselves are to be trusted. The younger respondents from China had a higher trust rating for their East Asian neighbours with 40% believing that they could be trusted. Surprisingly (or not surprising at all if you’re a bit cynical of their government), 63% of those polled did not know that Japan has offered loans to China worth more than 3 trillion yen.

In a figure that has relevance to both countries’ tourism industry, 65% of both sets of respondents have no interest in visiting the others’ country. The good news is that 71% of the Chinese and 60% of the Japanese believe that in spite of all the issues, bilateral ties between the two countries should still continue to foster the economic development of both.

[ via Voice of America ]
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  • Whirled Peas

    How can those surveyed generalize that they trust or distrust all the people from any given country, race, gender, or planet. Can most people even generalize that they “trust” every single person in their family/. The only way we’re going to have a shot at peace in this world is for us to appreciate people as individuals. Trust: “Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” I can only say for certain that I trust the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Caucasian, African American, Latino, and Native American people I have chosen as my friends. The rest, I cannot speak for, but since there’s no way to know everyone in the world I intentionally err on the side of assuming (until proven wrong) that the people of the world seek truth and justice, or if given a choice, would prefer it to prevarication and injustice).

  • Banlas

    Any Chinese trusting the Japanese opt to turn back to learn some history lesson of how the Japanese had committed the most brutal crime against fellow humans. Despite all these past heinous crime, the Japanese don’t seem to appear to regret for what they did.

    • Huang

      And Chinese can be trusted? I am not a mainland Chinese, but Singaporean Chinese, and I can say this, no one here trust mainland people. As for Japanese, I am willing to put my trust in them than mainland Chinese

      • Banlas

        Ask yourself whether Singaporean can be trusted or not? The answer is no. Singaporeans are famous for being kiasu, kiasi, kiabo, kiasai, kiabor and more “K”.

        • Huang

          Oh definitely, I trust my fellow Singaporean, come on, only mainland Chinese is known to be heartless, remember the little girl that got ran over by a truck in china and no one even care to help her? That shows how little humanities is in your country!

          • Kanninnia

            Singaporean talking about humanities? Singapore has turned away a Vietnamese cargo ship carrying 40 Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing genocide in Myanmar on 12 Dec 2012. What have you done for them?

    • Whirled Peas

      I’m an American but If asked if I trust Americans I could not answer the question because I have had enough direct experience with both “good and bad” fellow Americans, and I have enough historical knowledge of various American policies (both good and bad) that it would be impossible and pointless to generalize and say “I trust or do not trust Americans.” On the other hand, ask me if a I agree with a specific American policy or politician and I might be able to answer you. By extension, surveys asking Japanese or Chinese people if they trust the other forces the surveyed to view the other as a faceless aggregate rather than individuals. This is unfair at best, dangerous at worst.

      Very few Chinese people are unaware of the invasion of China by Imperial Japan in the 1930′s. And yes, we need to remember and learn from history. But asking people to evaluate everything that modern Japan does or does not do today in the 21st century by what Imperial Japan did at the beginning of the 20th century is a reductionist and deterministic approach to understanding current events.. It does not take into consideration all that has taken place since. It does not grapple with the complexity of people, events, current economics, causes and effects. I suggest learn from the past, but don’t unnecessarily dwell on it. China’s main problem is not Japan. China is undergoing tremendous change and is experiencing many internal contradictions, not the least of which is how to manage its economic reforms ( a “socialist market economy with a Chinese character”) in a largely capitalist world. For this New Year, the Year of the Snake, let us hope for a peaceful and productive Asia.

  • strawberrychara

    Alot of surveys going going on, about hatred isn’t it?
    But its a stupid and useless survey as its only 1000 Chinese and 1000 Japanese both countries with a mass of population 1000 is nothing.

  • ABC

    I am really glad to have found a place where there is constructive discussion and no automatic trolls for either sides. Been an Australian born Chinese, I just wish the older generation to step aside and leave something positive for the younger generations of Chinese and Japanese rather than racial hatred and a potential flashpoint that could cause war. That been said, I really do wish Japan’s ancient extreme rights could just retire already (I hope you are listening Mr Ishihara). I mean with product there is a use by date. After that they go stale and sour and make people go sick, so shop keepers take them off the shelf. Shouldn’t the same be applied to political arena? Besides shouldn’t the older generation leave the future to the young generation who is going to be living in it?

  • Laury Liu

    @Huang: There are good and bad to everything. Not all mainland people are bad. Just because you think differently from them and do not understand them doesnt mean they are bad. Do try to understand that before you blabber more racist nonsense.

    • Huang

      Tell that to the mainland Chinese, like they care, they feel all Japanese are bad, why can’t the same being said about them?