New Delhi: As many as 83 per cent American adults perceive China negatively, and four in 10 see the country as an enemy of the US, shows a recent survey by the Pew Research Center. Moreover, 62 per cent of US adults note the recent China-Russia partnership as a ‘very serious’ problem, and roughly half the survey participants find China-Taiwan tensions a ‘very serious’ concern – this was ahead of Taiwan President Tsai-Ing Wen’s visit to the US beginning 30 March.
For the study, released Wednesday evening, the Pew Research Center surveyed 3,576 adults across the US from 20-26 March this year. All survey participants were members of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses.
Among the issues the study explored was the growing apprehension among American adults towards China’s role in global affairs, thoughts on US-China cooperation, and support for the TikTok ban. It found that roughly eight in 10 Americans believe China interferes in the domestic affairs of other countries while 54 per cent believe the country cannot contribute to resolving international conflicts.
Around half of the participants (47 per cent) also believe that Beijing benefits more from the US-China trade relationship. Only 38 per cent believe China is a leading global economic power, while 48 per cent named the US. Eight in 10 Americans also see Washington’s economic competition with Beijing as a problem.
Interestingly, the survey also reveals that men (57 per cent) are more likely to call the US the world’s leading economic power while women are more likely to say China is the top economy (43 per cent).
Partner or ally?
A little over half of the respondents (52 per cent) saw China as a competitor while it was an enemy for 38 per cent and 6 per cent believed the country to be a partner of the US.
Almost three-quarters of survey participants (77 per cent) have no confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs.
The study also examined the correlation between different demographics – political affiliation, age, and views on China, etc., revealing that Republicans (40 per cent) are around twice as likely as Democrats (21 per cent) to believe that China does not contribute to peace and stability at all.
A majority of American adults also share the opinion that the US cannot collaborate with China on issues like resolving international conflicts, climate change policy, and combating the spread of infectious disease. However, two areas — student exchange and trade and economic policy — show a possibility for cooperation.
Age also plays an important role in shaping an opinion around China, with young Americans seeking more opportunities to work with the country than the older generations. Roughly 9 in 10 (or 90 per cent) US adults aged 65 and above have an unfavourable opinion about China while only 74 per cent of those between 18-29 years of age agree. Young adults also have more ‘nuanced, critical views’ on China, calling it the ‘world’s factory’, finds the study.
Higher levels of education also negatively affects China’s view in the US, with formally educated American adults (87 per cent) being more critical of the country.
A majority of Americans who took the survey also distrust Chinese social media platforms such as TikTok. Almost nine in ten have little to no confidence in the privacy policies of such apps.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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