An annual survey conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that about eight-in-ten Americans have an unfavorable view of China, with 43% holding a “very” unfavorable opinion. While this figure is slightly lower than last year’s 83%, negative sentiments towards China have been consistent since 2020. The survey, conducted among 3,600 U.S. adults in April 2024, found that views on China have been largely negative among American citizens.
These negative views towards China have coincided with a series of moves by the U.S. government to limit business ties with the country. Legislation was passed to force the sale of the U.S. operations of social media giant Tik Tok, which is owned by Chinese billionaire Zhang Yiming’s ByteDance. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the data transfers of drug manufacturer Wuxi Apptec, owned by Chinese American billionaire Ge Li, leading to Congressional scrutiny. The U.S. government has also imposed sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong companies for their support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite the hostile environment, some American business leaders have expressed optimism about opportunities in China. Tech leaders like Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk have visited the country to explore business prospects. However, Pew’s survey highlighted that Americans increasingly view China as an enemy, with 42% describing the country as such. Only 6% view China as a partner, while 50% see it as a competitor.
Respondents in the survey also acknowledged China’s growing influence in the world, with 71% believing that its influence has increased in recent years. The majority of Americans who think China impacts the U.S. economy view this influence negatively, with 79% stating it has a negative effect. However, younger adults are more likely than older Americans to see China’s influence positively on the U.S. economy.
The report also highlighted a generational divide in attitudes towards China, with older Americans expressing more unfavorable views and a greater tendency to label China as an enemy. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents were found to be more wary of China compared to Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. The survey results paint a complex picture of American attitudes towards China, reflecting a mix of cautious optimism, increasing hostility, and growing awareness of China’s global influence.
