You'd Be Surprised What Chinese College Students Think Of America These Days

Kathleen Miles, kmiles@theworldpost.com 12/03/2014

XI’AN, BEIJING, China -– China continues to open up to the West economically, and there are signs that U.S.-China relations could be improving. But a series of recent conversations with Chinese college students revealed that many in China remain both intensely patriotic and skeptical of the United States. And while China's economy continues to become more capitalistic, the Chinese definitely do not think America and the West have it all figured out politically or economically, especially not after the 2008 financial crisis. The students The WorldPost spoke with were also sensitive to, and eager to defend their country against, what they perceived as negative American press and sentiment towards China.


Most of the college students we spoke with had never been to America. Their opinions came from third-hand reports, interactions with Americans in China and, of course, movies and television. Some of the students' comments reflected stereotypes that have -- like so many stereotypes -- a grain of truth to them. At the same time, many of them, especially those who had encountered Americans themselves, were willing to move beyond their preconceived notions of the country.

What's clear is that Chinese students do indeed have opinions about the U.S., opinions that may be stronger than American students' views on China. Below are excerpts from conversations The WorldPost had with students from Jiaotong University in Xi'an as well as several other students in Beijing:


Read more comments at www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/chinese-college-students-america_n_6244638.html