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Chinese people with an unfavorable impression of Japan in 2024 increased sharply from the previous year to nearly 90 percent, marking the second-highest level, an annual survey showed Monday as the two Asian neighbors remain at odds over various issues.
The figure rose 24.8 percentage points from 2023, amid lingering tensions around the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, disputes over wartime history and Japan's continued discharge of treated radioactive water from the disaster-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean.
In the joint poll conducted by Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO and the China International Communications Group, Chinese respondents with a "bad" or "relatively bad" impression of Japan stood at 87.7 percent.
The result follows the record-high 92.8 percent logged in 2013, when bilateral relations were particularly strained following the previous year's move by Japan to bring the Senkakus under state control. The poll has been conducted since 2005.
In a multiple-choice question asking Chinese respondents to explain their negative impression, 45.5 percent, the largest group, cited "confrontation" triggered by Japan's move over the Senkakus. Many also touched on Japan's stance on Taiwan, a self-ruled island China views as its own territory, and historical perceptions.
In another sign of deteriorating sentiment, Chinese respondents with favorable, or relatively favorable, impression of Japan dropped by 24.7 points from the previous year to 12.3 percent.
Meanwhile, Japanese respondents with a bad or relatively bad impression of China declined 3.2 points to 89.0 percent.
Asked about factors that hamper the bilateral relations' development, 35.5 percent of Chinese respondents cited the treated water discharge from the Fukushima plant that began in August 2023 despite opposition from Beijing, while 50.6 percent of Japanese respondents chose the dispute over the Senkakus.
As for the kind of media they get information from about each other's nation, 63.7 percent of Chinese respondents said their main source is internet accessed from computers and smartphones, up from 41.6 percent the previous year and a higher percentage compared with televisions and newspapers.
With the survey showing more Chinese obtaining information on Japan online, Yasushi Kudo, who heads Genron NPO, told a press conference in Tokyo that "negative views can be easily amplified" such as through social media.
The poll also showed that a record-low 26.3 percent of Chinese respondents view Sino-Japanese ties are important, tumbling from 60.1 percent. It was the first time for the figure to fall below 60 percent, with even the 2013 figure being 72.3 percent.
For Japanese, 67.1 percent considered the relationship as important, up from 65.1 percent.
The latest survey was conducted from mid-October to early November, collecting valid responses from 1,000 people in Japan and 1,500 in China aged 18 or older.
© KYODO
32 Comments
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Asiaman7
What does the data tell us?
In the first nine months of 2024, 5.2 million Chinese tourists visited Japan. This is a 228% increase from the same period in 2023.
People generally don’t engage in leisure travel to countries they view negatively. Therefore, we can be highly doubtful of these survey results. They were produced by the China International Communications Group, which is owned by the Chinese Communist Party.
Moreover, the chief reason cited for all this claimed negativity is the Senkaku Islands. That’s a Chinese government issue. Most local Chinese couldn’t care less.
Mr Kipling
Considering the anti China propaganda coming from Japan towards China, I'm surprised it isn't 100%.
aaronagstring
And I imagine the feeling fairly mutual.
In other news: Water is wet. Shock Discovery.
Bobby Franks
We obviously have a great example of it right here!
TaiwanIsNotChina
None of which began in 2023 or 2024. Really makes you think.
West sea
So what?!…
factchecker
Gee what a shock.
Chabbawanga
Seen a lot of very happy Chinese tourists around here lately.
Aaron Wright
Communist Party propaganda published by JT? Hmm?
WoodyLee
Of Course, and the same the other way around.
Until these two great nations learn to accept one another for the good will of their people things wont change.
Stubbornness never produced peace nor prosperity.
Guess we have to wait for the new generations to fix thing.
Gorramcowboy
That's ok. I'm guessing 90% plus of the world view China negatively.
Sh1mon M4sada
Ask Chinese people would they send their sons to die fighting for the CCP'S BOGUS claim to the Senkakus and see what the result is.
Fighto!
It's called Communist brainwashing, plain and simple.
Plus, a lot of jealousy from Chinese toward Japanese people and their freedoms and development.
Brian Trout
This “survey” is a complete joke. It’s basically a Chinese Communist Party press release published as “news” by JT.
As Sh1mon writes, “Ask Chinese people if they would send their sons to die fighting for the CCP'S BOGUS claim to the Senkakus and see what the result is.”
ian
Radioactive water discharge from fukushima will ramain a big issue for a long time. South Korea has not removed or even changed its ban on Japanese seafood. In the US, despite rising consumer demand for seafood, imports from Japan have dropped significantly
kibousha
XiXiPee propaganda working as intended.
They never mention how Japan helped China kickstart its economy through ODA since 1979, nope, Japan bad! works better for XiXiPee.
Asiaman7
A recent annual poll by the East Asia Institute, an independent think tank, showed that a record high percentage of South Koreans currently have a good impression of Japan.
—
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/20/japan/south-korea-japan-sentiment/
stormcrow
Judging by the way the many Chinese tourists behave when they're visiting Japan, that comes as no surprise.
Which begs the question, if so many Chinese have such a negative view of Japan, why do so many of them still come to Japan?
OR
Why do so few Japanese visit China?
OR
Why do so many Japanese prefer to visit Taiwan instead of mainland China?
OR
etc.
Jtsnose
. . . hopefully some things can be done to improve the bilateral relationship between both countries . . . for example, it does seem that there are a good number of people of Chinese descent who come to Japan for tourism, etc . . . .
Hercolobus
Not a surprise. The CCP has spread the flame of hate.
Yotomaya
What's the point of such a poll (or reporting results like this)? It makes it look like there is no nuance between pro- and anti-given country, which is just an appeal to blind tribalism.
ian
—
Does that mean south Korea will lift its ban on japanese seafood soon?
deanzaZZR
This is a sad situation with blame on both sides.
The street interviews are from 6 years ago but it gives a good impression of the diversity of opinion of the average Chinese towards Japan at that time.
What The Chinese Think Of Japan l ASIAN BOSS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfR9pwuR5yE
Falco1
You started well stating that their regime brainwashed them but then your next statement shows that you feel that Chinese are inferior in your point of view which is toxic.
Asiaman7
The two aren’t mutually exclusive. South Koreas can favorably view Japanese and still have concerns about radioactive water discharges from Fukushima.
Brian Trout
Japan uses the “survey” to drum up fear of the neighbor who supposedly hates “us” (to support the government’s greater military spending?).
And China uses the survey to press for territorial “compromise” by playing to Japan’s desire to be liked.
Negative Nancy
What is the pupose of the poll other than to cause a stink?
I'd love to know what the actual questions were, and how the interviewees were recruited. When this kind of information is not properly reported, it suggests that the results are meaningless.
Let's all be nice to each other and stop it with the xenophobia.
dobre vam zajebava
fabricated numbers.
lets see hordes of chinese tourists here.if they doslike this country-will they come here to spend their money?
it will be interesting to ask Japanese same questions about Korea and China-how they like these two countries?
ian
So south Koreans view Japan favorably despite the country's ban on japanese seafood, ok.
stickman1760
Well, probably 90 percent of the developed world views China negatively while adoring Japan. I know where I’d rather be.
BertieWooster
Yes, this is Chinese propaganda. So why is it being published here?
By printing it here, it becomes anti-Chinese propaganda. And there's already far too much of that.
deanzaZZR
According to the chart in the article linked below the "hordes" prefer Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Australia to Japan as a travel destination.
https://www.eiu.com/n/in-charts-chinas-outbound-tourism-in-2024/
Gazman
Thats what the Chinese government want. I used to live in China, anyone watching the state run TV (everyone) is taught to dislike Japan at every given opportunity.
Sven Asai
Shouldn't construct the next conflict while there is none. They visit here in masses, even causing over-tourism issues, and that's surely not because they are 90% full of hate for Japen. Put some constraints on those fake information. The normal people in both countries are peaceful, friendly and mostly like also each others' people, culture, delicious dishes and delivered products.
Lindsay
I’d say it’s about the same for how Japanese view China.
shogun36
So, how does that pay my bills?
Oh, it doesn't? Then so, what?
Pretty sure it's the same feeling in Japan, and for no actual reason too.
Whenever I hear some Japanese person say "I hate Chinese people," or something like that, I ask why do you hate them?
silence..............................
Yup, no actual reason, except for just "I hate them."