Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey
This study examines how Thai citizens perceive China as a potential threat, with a focus on the differences between urban and rural populations. Using data from the Asian Barometer Survey’s third to sixth waves, spanning from 2010 to 2022, the analysis employs ordered probit regression to assess how...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Political Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1564586/full |
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| author | Sanyarat Meesuwan Prasongchai Setthasuravich |
| author_facet | Sanyarat Meesuwan Prasongchai Setthasuravich |
| author_sort | Sanyarat Meesuwan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines how Thai citizens perceive China as a potential threat, with a focus on the differences between urban and rural populations. Using data from the Asian Barometer Survey’s third to sixth waves, spanning from 2010 to 2022, the analysis employs ordered probit regression to assess how residential location, democratic values, and trade protectionist attitudes influence perceptions of China’s influence in Thailand and across Asia. The study reveals a notable divide in how Thai citizens perceive China, with urban residents more inclined to view China as a threat compared to their rural counterparts. Urban skepticism reflects exposure to competitive markets, critical media, and global political discourse, which frame China’s regional behavior as a challenge to democratic norms and national autonomy. In contrast, rural populations tend to hold more neutral or positive views, likely influenced by the tangible material benefits derived from Chinese engagement, such as infrastructure investment and agricultural trade. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy responses in Thailand. Officials should implement targeted policy responses: increasing transparency in bilateral agreements, promoting civic oversight of foreign investment, and strengthening media literacy to address public distrust in urban areas. In rural areas, efforts should prioritize inclusive benefit-sharing and protecting local autonomy in development planning. For Chinese policymakers, the results underscore the limits of uniform public diplomacy, calling for adaptive strategies that respect Thailand’s internal diversity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-13beffdde15949a593114aa6b210f67d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-3145 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Political Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-13beffdde15949a593114aa6b210f67d2025-08-20T03:59:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Political Science2673-31452025-07-01710.3389/fpos.2025.15645861564586Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer SurveySanyarat Meesuwan0Prasongchai Setthasuravich1College of Politics and Governance, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, ThailandDepartment of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JapanThis study examines how Thai citizens perceive China as a potential threat, with a focus on the differences between urban and rural populations. Using data from the Asian Barometer Survey’s third to sixth waves, spanning from 2010 to 2022, the analysis employs ordered probit regression to assess how residential location, democratic values, and trade protectionist attitudes influence perceptions of China’s influence in Thailand and across Asia. The study reveals a notable divide in how Thai citizens perceive China, with urban residents more inclined to view China as a threat compared to their rural counterparts. Urban skepticism reflects exposure to competitive markets, critical media, and global political discourse, which frame China’s regional behavior as a challenge to democratic norms and national autonomy. In contrast, rural populations tend to hold more neutral or positive views, likely influenced by the tangible material benefits derived from Chinese engagement, such as infrastructure investment and agricultural trade. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy responses in Thailand. Officials should implement targeted policy responses: increasing transparency in bilateral agreements, promoting civic oversight of foreign investment, and strengthening media literacy to address public distrust in urban areas. In rural areas, efforts should prioritize inclusive benefit-sharing and protecting local autonomy in development planning. For Chinese policymakers, the results underscore the limits of uniform public diplomacy, calling for adaptive strategies that respect Thailand’s internal diversity.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1564586/fullurban–rural divideperception of China threatChina-Thailand relationsrising Chinapublic diplomacy |
| spellingShingle | Sanyarat Meesuwan Prasongchai Setthasuravich Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey Frontiers in Political Science urban–rural divide perception of China threat China-Thailand relations rising China public diplomacy |
| title | Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey |
| title_full | Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey |
| title_fullStr | Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey |
| title_short | Urban and rural threat perceptions of China in Thailand: a longitudinal analysis from the Asian Barometer Survey |
| title_sort | urban and rural threat perceptions of china in thailand a longitudinal analysis from the asian barometer survey |
| topic | urban–rural divide perception of China threat China-Thailand relations rising China public diplomacy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1564586/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sanyaratmeesuwan urbanandruralthreatperceptionsofchinainthailandalongitudinalanalysisfromtheasianbarometersurvey AT prasongchaisetthasuravich urbanandruralthreatperceptionsofchinainthailandalongitudinalanalysisfromtheasianbarometersurvey |