Without popular support, American democracy has long been a river without a source and a tree without its roots, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a press briefing on Friday.

Zhao made the remarks in response to a survey conducted by Harvard University which found a striking lack of confidence in U.S. democracy among young Americans.

According to the survey, only 7 percent view the U.S. as a "healthy democracy," 52 percent believe that democracy is either "in trouble" or "failing," 35 percent anticipate a second civil war during their lifetimes, and 25 percent believe that at least one state will secede.