This fact-checking report examines the Global Times article titled “Far more countries hold a favorable view of China than the US,” published on May 15, 2025, which cites the Democracy Perception Index (DPI) 2025 by Nira Data and references Newsweek. The analysis focuses on verifying claims, identifying potential propaganda, and assessing framing techniques used in the article.
Claim Verification
Claim 1: “Far more countries hold a favorable view of China than the US – over three-quarters of the nearly 100 nations surveyed had a preferable view of Beijing compared to Washington.”
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Verification: The DPI 2025, conducted by Nira Data in collaboration with the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, reports that 76 out of 96 countries surveyed (79%) had a more positive view of China than the US. This aligns with the article’s claim. The survey, conducted between April 9-23, 2025, included 111,273 respondents across 100 countries, with an average of ~1,100 per country, supporting the sample size mentioned.
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Accuracy: True. The claim accurately reflects the DPI 2025 findings as reported by Newsweek and other sources. However, the phrase “far more” is subjective and amplifies the gap for effect.
Claim 2: “Perception of the US around the world has fallen sharply over the past year… Net perceptions of the US have dropped from +20 to -5 since 2024, only slightly ahead of Russia. Meanwhile, views of China have risen from around +5 to +14.”
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Verification: The DPI 2025 data confirms the net perception of the US dropped from +22% in 2024 to -5% in 2025, and China’s rose from +5% to +14%. Russia’s net perception was -9%. These figures match the article’s claims.
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Accuracy: True. The numbers are consistent with the DPI 2025 report. The comparison to Russia is accurate but selective, as it omits other countries’ perceptions for context.
Claim 3: “Beijing was viewed more positively across all continents, enjoying the largest levels of support in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Sub-Saharan Africa.”
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Verification: The DPI 2025 indicates China has a net positive image in most regions except Europe, with particularly high favorability in MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa. Newsweek’s map and analysis support this, noting China’s positive perception in 79% of surveyed countries.
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Accuracy: Partially True. The claim overstates by saying “all continents,” as Europe is an exception where China’s perception is less positive than the US in many countries.
Claim 4: “In Europe, net perceptions of China are often higher than those of the US, particularly in Western Europe.”
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Verification: The DPI 2025 notes that several Western European countries (e.g., Germany, Austria, Ireland) have net negative perceptions of the US, but China’s perceptions are not uniformly higher across Europe. In allies like Poland and Ukraine, the US is viewed more favorably.
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Accuracy: False. The claim exaggerates China’s favorability in Europe, particularly Western Europe, where perceptions of both countries vary, and the US retains a positive image in several nations.
Claim 5: “The gap was particularly wide in Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Tunisia, where China enjoyed nearly unanimous support.”
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Verification: The DPI 2025 does not provide country-specific data for these nations in accessible reports, but MENA countries generally show strong positive views of China. The term “nearly unanimous support” is not substantiated by specific figures in the cited sources.
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Accuracy: Unverified. Without granular data, the claim of “nearly unanimous support” appears exaggerated and lacks evidence.
Claim 6: “The US has adopted beggar-thy-neighbor policies, protectionism, unilateralism, and a series of bullying practices in its foreign policy.”
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Verification: This is an opinion attributed to Li Haidong, a Chinese academic. It reflects a narrative critical of US policies, such as tariffs under President Trump, mentioned in the article’s background. The DPI 2025 links negative US perceptions to Trump’s actions, but terms like “beggar-thy-neighbor” and “bullying” are subjective.
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Accuracy: Opinion-Based. The claim is not a verifiable fact but an interpretation aligned with Chinese state narratives.
Propaganda and Framing Analysis
Propaganda Elements
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Selective Reporting: The article emphasizes China’s favorable perception while downplaying exceptions (e.g., Europe, US allies like Japan and South Korea). It omits context about China’s own challenges, such as human rights criticisms, which could affect perceptions.
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State-Affiliated Source Bias: Global Times, owned by the Chinese Communist Party, is known for promoting Beijing’s narrative. The inclusion of Li Haidong’s commentary, without balancing perspectives, reinforces this bias.
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Exaggeration: Terms like “nearly unanimous support” and “far more countries” amplify China’s image beyond the data’s scope, creating a perception of overwhelming global preference.
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Omission of Methodology: The article does not discuss DPI’s methodology or potential biases, such as varying definitions of “favorability” or authoritarian regimes’ influence on responses.
Framing Techniques
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Positive Framing of China: China is portrayed as a “provider of stability and certainty,” contrasting with the US’s “declining image.” This frames China as a global leader and the US as faltering.
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Negative Framing of the US: The US is linked to “beggar-thy-neighbor policies” and “bullying,” leveraging Trump’s controversial actions to depict the US as aggressive and unreliable.
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Appeal to Global Consensus: By citing a global poll and emphasizing the “global majority,” the article suggests widespread agreement with China’s rise, appealing to bandwagon psychology.
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Selective Attribution: Quoting Newsweek and Li Haidong lends credibility, but the lack of diverse sources or critical perspectives narrows the narrative to favor China.
Potential Issues
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Data Interpretation: The DPI 2025’s favorability metric may reflect economic ties (e.g., China’s Belt and Road Initiative) rather than approval of governance or values, which the article does not clarify.
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Authoritarian Influence: In authoritarian countries, survey responses may be skewed due to government control or fear, as noted in prior DPI analyses. This is not addressed.
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Contextual Omission: The article ignores geopolitical factors, such as China’s territorial disputes or US alliances, that shape perceptions.
The Global Times article is largely accurate in citing DPI 2025 data on China’s higher favorability compared to the US, with verified figures on net perceptions and country counts. However, it contains propaganda through selective reporting, exaggeration, and biased framing to elevate China’s image while denigrating the US. Claims about Europe and “nearly unanimous support” in specific countries are misleading or unverified. The article’s reliance on state-affiliated perspectives and omission of critical context further align it with Chinese propaganda objectives.
