Sino-phobia in Russia and Kyrgyzstan

In: Journal of contemporary China, Band 31, Heft 133, S. 38-56

Abstract

Sino-phobia, which has reportedly grown internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a potential obstacle to China's economic and foreign policy initiatives involving Russia and Central Asia. After providing historical and theoretical context, the authors analyse publicly reported time-series data from Russia and original survey data from Russia and Kyrgyzstan to assess the extent of Sino-phobic attitudes and their associations with demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic variables. By also considering attitudes toward Americans and other national groups, the authors show that anti-Chinese sentiment, while high, does not exhibit especially pronounced tendencies. In Russia, nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment are key correlates of Sino-phobia. Additional survey research is necessary to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Sino-phobia and determine whether it hinders China-friendly policies, as some observers have suggested. (J Contemp China / GIGA)