The annual Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday showed that over 40% of Americans now label China as an enemy, the highest level in five years. Half of Americans see China as a competitor, while only 6% consider the country a partner. The Biden administration is working to stabilize U.S.-China relations while countering China on various issues, but the public’s perception of China has turned largely critical after a trade war was launched in 2018 and the emergence of COVID-19. Beijing’s human rights record, ties to Russia, and policies towards Taiwan and Hong Kong have also contributed to negative views among Americans.
The Pew report, drawn from an April survey of 3,600 U.S. adults, found that roughly half of Americans believe limiting China’s power and influence should be a top U.S. foreign policy priority. Additionally, about eight in 10 Americans hold an unfavorable view of China, with 43% holding a very unfavorable opinion. President Xi Jinping also receives negative ratings, with about 80% of Americans having little to no confidence in him regarding world affairs. The negative attitudes towards China are more prominent among older Americans, conservative Republicans, and those with a negative view of the U.S. economy.
U.S. government officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, have made efforts to “responsibly” manage the competition with China through recent visits. Despite these efforts, President Joe Biden continues to compete with former President Donald Trump on being tough on China, as both see the country as a significant adversary. The report also noted that American views of China have become more critical after the trade war in 2018 and the onset of COVID-19, with concerns about Beijing’s human rights record and its policies towards Taiwan and Hong Kong further impacting public perception.
The survey revealed that for the fifth consecutive year, approximately eight in 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of China. About two in five Americans now view China as an enemy, the highest level since 2021. The report also highlighted that the share of Americans who see China as an enemy is higher among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents compared to Democrats and those leaning Democratic. Americans also tend to view China more negatively when they perceive China’s influence in the world as growing or believe that China has significant influence on the U.S. economy.
The Pew survey was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 3,600 respondents and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. The findings indicate that American attitudes towards China have become increasingly critical, with a majority of the population viewing China as a competitor or enemy rather than a partner. The U.S. government’s efforts to manage the competition with China, coupled with concerns about Beijing’s actions and policies, have contributed to the negative perception of China among Americans.
