Europeans believe China will overtake US in a decade, despite Biden presidency

A survey of 11 countries in Europe has uncovered a massive shift in attitudes, with many believing the US system is broken

Most respondents say the EU should be self-reliant and remain neutral in any conflict between the two powers

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Most Europeans welcome incoming US president Joe Biden, but they do not believe his administration holds all the answers to a rising China. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:19pm, 20 Jan 2021Updated: 12:38am, 21 Jan 2021

The US political system is broken and China will be the most powerful nation on earth within a decade, according to most Europeans responding to a survey which has revealed a dramatic shift in attitudes on the continent.

While 53 per cent believed Joe Biden’s electoral victory would make a positive difference to their countries – and 57 per cent said his administration would be beneficial for the European Union – a majority also believed the EU should be more self-reliant when dealing with China.

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank surveyed 15,000 people from 11 countries and found six out of 10 thought China would become more powerful than the US within the next 10 years, according to its report published on Tuesday.

“Our survey showed that Europeans’ attitudes towards the United States have undergone a massive change. Majorities in key member states now think the US political system is broken, that China will be more powerful than the US within a decade, and that Europeans cannot rely on the US to defend them,” the report said.

The survey, “The crisis of American power: How Europeans see Biden’s America”, was conducted in November and December last year – during the aftermath of the US presidential election which replaced Donald Trump with Biden.

At the same time, EU and Chinese leaders were in the final stages of sealing their Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), despite calls from president-elect Biden for a slowdown. There were also accusations from critics that the deal compromised European values in the face of human rights challenges from the West on China’s handling of Xinjiang and Hong Kong.