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Western Attitudes Harden Toward Beijing, Poll Finds

Jamie Dettmer

   Western attitudes havehardened towardBeijing amid the coronavirus
   pandemic,with a majority of Britons, Americans and French viewingChina
   as a malign force in the world, accordingto a new poll.

   The surveybytheBritish-basedresearch groupInstitute for Global
   Changefound that 60% of British and French citizens now view Beijing as
   a "force for bad" in the world. That view is shared by 56% of Americans
   and 47% of Germans. Only 3% of Britons, 4% of Germans and 5% of the
   French and Americans identified China as a force for good.

   TheInstitute for Global Change was founded by former
   Britishprimeminister Tony Blairand the poll was conducted by the
   YouGovagency.

   While warning against pursuing afull-blown Cold War against China
   because of its deep economic ties with the West, Blair, who served as
   prime minister from 1997 to 2007, said in comments accompanying the
   pollresults that Beijing has"serious questions"to answer over its
   handling ofthe coronavirus when it first emerged.

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