Views of China hit new low: Survey

Americans have a deteriorating view of China and its relations with the U.S., according to a Thursday report published by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Participants ranked the country 26 out of 100 on the Council’s 0–100 feeling thermometer, which dropped China 32 spots from its 2022 position. The sentiment was reflected in polling on trade relations and national enterprises.

The council has captured data since 1978 and said this year’s numbers are a record low for China.

Among survey takers, 56 percent said U.S.-China trade does more to weaken U.S. national security while 39 percent said it strengthens it. Half of Americans, 49 percent, viewed China as more influential than the United States in Asia while 74 percent of people would describe China as a rival.

By party, 61 percent of Republicans reported China’s territorial ambitions were a critical threat to America compared to 49 percent of Democrats and 36 percent of independents who said the same.

Additionally, 67 percent of Republicans were more concerned about China’s status as a world power versus 48 percent of independents and 46 percent of Democrats. 

More than half, 55 percent, of respondents said the United States should actively work to limit the growth of China’s power, while 4 in 10 say the United States should maintain friendly engagement with China.

The council survey was conducted from June 21 to July 1 with Ipsos using its online research panel. The survey sampled 2,106 adults 18 or older living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The margin of sampling error for the full sample is 2.3 percentage points.