As Chinese Balloon Spotted in Colombia, Colombian Distrust of Global Chinese Climate Investments Grows
Tracking Global Events | 8 February 2023
Shortly after a Chinese balloon was spotted flying over the United States, the Colombian Air Force detected a separate Chinese balloon over their airspace. In a divergence from the US approach, the Colombian government took no action and simply tracked the balloon as it exited Colombian airspace. Competing narratives have arisen over what the balloon’s purpose was, with the U.S. claiming it is used for surveillance, while the Chinese government insisting these were accidental breaches by meteorological balloons studying weather and climate change. The incident has sparked a broader debate across Colombia regarding Chinese investments to combat and study climate change and potential ulterior motives. Premise released a survey, receiving nearly 1,900 responses measuring Colombian sentiment on the incident and views on Chinese climate change investments.
Insights
- 68% of Colombians surveyed believe the American framing of these balloons being used for military surveillance, while only 32% believe the Chinese narrative that the balloon was a meteorological/climate measurement device. Furthermore, in the context of this incident, 46% of respondents are now more suspicious of Chinese efforts to combat climate change.
- Among respondents, 57% believe the Chinese breach of Colombian airspace was intentional. A slightly smaller majority (53%) also believe the Colombian government should punish China for this incident.
- Gauging the comfort level of the Chinese or Americans flying a balloon over their country to conduct climate research, Colombians are more comfortable with the U.S. conducting this research than China by a margin of 7%.
- Despite Colombians being overall supportive of both Chinese and American climate infrastructure investment, they are more supporting of American climate infrastructure investment (80%) in their country when compared against Chinese infrastructure investment (68%).
- 63% of respondents believe the U.S. should be the global leader in the fight against climate change, while just 37% believe it should be China.
To what extent do you believe that Chinese investments in climate change are used for their stated purpose?
Support or opposition of climate infrastructure investment and projects in Colombia based on source country
Methodology
Between February 7th and February 8th, Premise surveyed 1,857 Colombians. Premise launched a rapid response survey utilizing convenience sampling, a type of nonprobability sampling that is hyper efficient in dynamic events, involving the sample being drawn from the population that is ready to assist.
Premise in Action
Premise offers a unique ability to quickly source information from real people on the Ground in hard-to-reach places. Over five million people in 140 countries are using the Premise app on their smartphones, enabling our customers to monitor a situation over time and employ a data-driven approach to timely decision-making.