Chinese trust government more than Americans do

Acommon misconception in the West is that the Chinese don’t support their government and trust their leaders as much as people do in the so-called liberal democracies in the West. But findings can be surprising.

Back in the late 1990s, one of my American colleagues in Shanghai said that before he came to China, he thought the Chinese people were overwhelmingly against their government. However, after working in the country for a few years, he found that Chinese love their government just like Americans love their government.

Returning to the United States after a few years, he penned an article for a local paper in New York sharing his experience.

Various surveys have also shown that the Chinese support for their government and leaders is exceptionally high compared with the US and other Western countries.

In the trust barometer survey released in January of this year by Edelman Global Public Relations, the Chinese showed the highest trust (76 percent) in their government among people of 28 countries and regions.

This study contrasts sharply with several recent Gallup polls which showed dismal approval ratings by Americans for their government, president and Congress.

The Gallup poll released on Oct 20 found that approval for US President Donald Trump had slipped to 36.9 percent in his third quarter, compared with 38.8 percent in the second quarter.

Even on key concerns of pollution, corruption and inequality, Chinese have displayed optimism that situation will improve ... a contrast to the often pessimistic views in the US regarding the key problems in the country.