A new poll has found that the public in many leading countries support breaking economic ties with China if it invades Taiwan.
The Democracy Perception Index is an annual survey on worldwide public opinion towards democracy. The 2021 study found that in 26 of the 53 countries surveyed, the majority of the public would support cutting economic ties with China if it invaded Taiwan.
These countries include the United States, Japan, and Germany. Together they represent 53% of China’s total annual trade volume, equal to US$2.3 billion.
But the survey results found regional differences in perceptions towards China. It notably shows that a majority of the publics in all six Southeast Asian countries support maintaining relations with China if it invaded Taiwan.
The study also found only 22 countries had a positive image of China. Countries with a negative view of China were mostly liberal democracies in Europe, North America, and East Asia.