“Chinese Perception of U.S. Presidential Candidates”

Abstract

Little is known about the perceptions of Chinese citizens regarding U.S. domestic politics, particularly among university students in the People’s Republic of China. During their time at institutions of higher learning, U.S. students often experience heightened political awareness and increased engagement with political issues. Scholars have conducted minimal research, however, among their Chinese counterparts. Given the current political climate, as the United States and the prc have an exceptionally contentious relationship, the opinions of Chinese students regarding the most recent U.S. presidential candidates have particular interest. This case study examines 506 Chinese university students’ perspectives on U.S. 2020 presidential election candidates Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr. Findings indicate that there is a negative perception of Trump, a great deal of uncertainty regarding Biden, and considerable diversity among opinions overall.