Analysis on the Perception of Taiwan in Central Europe
Central European Public Perception of China and Taiwan Remains Negative, Says New Report
A recent report by the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) has shed light on the public perception of China and Taiwan in Central European countries, particularly the Visegrad Four (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia).
The report, titled "Echoes and Resistance," examines China's propaganda efforts in these countries since 2013. According to the findings, the public perception of China in Central Europe remains predominantly negative or non-committal, with Czechia exhibiting the most negative views and Slovakia being slightly more positive, though still with a majority of negative opinions.
The report highlights that the citizens of these countries, by virtue of their histories, are less receptive to authoritarian rule. More educated and liberal segments of the population tend to be more critical of China, whereas conservative voters show somewhat more favorable views.
Regarding Taiwan, the report finds that Taiwan faces an image challenge in Central Europe, even among allies, due to falsehoods and misrepresentations propagated by China. Public knowledge about Taiwan's sovereignty is often cursory or incomplete, which complicates the issue. Nevertheless, human rights concerns receive more attention and sympathy than the territorial dispute itself.
Interestingly, Taiwan refrains from disparaging the People's Republic of China (PRC) to other countries. Parliamentary groups, however, have more flexibility and independence, and can base their activities on their own sense of what is right and true. They can initiate studies, pass resolutions, and have the political authority to influence government policy, which could be instrumental in countering China's propaganda efforts.
The PRC, on the other hand, is attempting to forge a positive narrative about itself and its intentions in the international community. However, the report finds that Chinese propaganda has limited success in Central Europe, with public attitudes being mainly shaped by domestic political, cultural, and historical factors.
The report suggests that the Chinese government should view its propaganda efforts as an opportunity to engage more deeply with the citizens of these countries. It does not discuss the role of civil society in other countries in shaping perceptions of Taiwan or the direct impact of the PRC's propaganda efforts on the government's power to push back against lies about Taiwan.
The report also states that people in the region view Chinese policies on Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan negatively and do not tend to accept China's delineation of its 'core interests.' It also emphasizes the importance of protecting contested states, such as Taiwan, in international law against the use of force.
In conclusion, the report provides valuable insights into the public perception of China and Taiwan in Central Europe. It underscores the need for greater engagement and dialogue between the PRC and Central European countries, as well as the importance of protecting the sovereignty of contested states like Taiwan in international law.
- The negative public perception of China and Taiwan in Central Europe raises questions about the effectiveness of China's propaganda policy-and-legislation and its implications on their relationship with these countries.
- As the report suggests, the general-news landscape in Central Europe is shaped more by domestic political, cultural, and historical factors, rather than Chinese propaganda efforts, highlighting the need for China to approach these matters with a more nuanced approach in war-and-conflicts and diplomacy.
