{"id":28038,"date":"2023-04-12T13:57:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T18:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:55:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:55:10","slug":"americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Americans Are Critical of China\u2019s Global Role \u2013 as Well as Its Relationship With Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-prc-block-subtitle\" aria-level=\"2\">Most see little ability for the U.S. and China to cooperate<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_featured.jpg?w=640\" alt=\"Photo showing Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of a military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing in June 2018. (Photo by Greg Baker\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-52430\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of a military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing in June 2018. (Photo by Greg Baker\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center conducted this study to gauge Americans\u2019 views of China. For this analysis, we surveyed 3,576 U.S. adults from March 20-26, 2023. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_TOPLINE.pdf\">questions used<\/a> for the report, along with responses, and its <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/us-views-china-2023-methodology\/\">methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers also included some quotations drawn from focus groups that were held in Arlington, Virginia in December 2022. These four U.S.-based focus groups were part of a larger, cross-national project that focused on how young people think about international engagement and multilateralism. Groups were organized by ideological affiliation \u2013 left or right \u2013 and views toward their own country\u2019s involvement in world affairs \u2013 \u201cinternationally engaged\u201d or \u201cdomestically focused.\u201d Read more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/03\/08\/young-people-focus-groups-methodology\/\">methodology for the focus groups<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quotations are not necessarily representative of the majority opinion in any particular group or in the United States. Quotations may have been edited for grammar, spelling and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We previously reported on how young people in France, Germany and the United Kingdom discussed their views of China (as well as the U.S.) in this report: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/03\/22\/young-adults-in-europe-are-critical-of-the-u-s-and-china-but-for-different-reasons\/\">Young adults in Europe are Critical of the U.S. and China \u2013 but for Different Reasons<\/a>.\u201d Previous reporting on how young people discuss the role they want their country to play regarding foreign policy can be found here: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/03\/08\/how-young-adults-want-their-country-to-engage-with-the-world\/\">How Young Adults Want Their Country To Engage With the World<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large majority of U.S. adults (83%) continue to have negative views of China, and the share who have very unfavorable views (44%) has increased by 4 percentage points since last year. Around four-in-ten Americans also now describe China as an enemy of the United States, rather than as a competitor or a partner \u2013 up 13 points since last year, according to a March 20-26, 2023, Pew Research Center survey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People are broadly concerned about China\u2019s role in the world, both geopolitically and in terms of specific issues. For example, in the wake of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2023\/03\/22\/1165066688\/xi-jinping-putin-talks-china-russia-ukraine\">Chinese President Xi Jinping\u2019s recent visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a>, 62% of Americans see the China-Russia partnership as a very serious problem for the U.S., up 5 points since October and back to the original high levels seen in the immediate aftermath of the Ukraine invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35387\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-01-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1e2d4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1e2d4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?resize=480,286 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?resize=782,466 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?resize=960,572 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?resize=1200,714 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?resize=1280,762 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"381\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-01.png?w=640\" alt=\"Bar chart showing majority of Americans see the China-Russia relationship as a very serious problem for the U.S.\" class=\"wp-image-35387 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concerns about <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/29\/americans-are-increasingly-worried-about-china-taiwan-tensions\/\">tensions between mainland China and Taiwan are also elevated<\/a>: Even before Taiwan\u2019s President Tsai-Ing Wen visited the U.S., 47% described them as a very serious problem \u2013 a 19-point increase from the share who said the same two years ago. China\u2019s policies on human rights are also a very serious concern for around half of Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s growing technological power rates as a lower concern for many Americans than these other issues, though four-in-ten describe it as a very serious problem. Yet, around two-thirds of Americans are aware that TikTok\u2019s parent company, ByteDance, is located in China, and by a more than two-to-one margin, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/31\/by-a-more-than-two-to-one-margin-americans-support-us-government-banning-tiktok\/\">more Americans support than oppose the U.S. government banning TikTok<\/a> (28% are not sure). This is particularly the case among those who are aware the app is Chinese-owned or among those who have an unfavorable view of China.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35411\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-02-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e9ea\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e9ea;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-02.png?resize=480,359 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-02.png?resize=782,585 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-02.png?resize=840,628 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"314\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-02.png?w=420\" alt=\"Bar chart showing most Americans are critical of China\u2019s role in the world\" class=\"wp-image-35411 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans are also critical of China\u2019s behavior on the international stage. Around three-quarters or more say China does not take the interests of other countries like the U.S. into account, that it interferes in the affairs of other countries and that it does not contribute to peace and stability around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans and Republican-leaning independents tend to see China\u2019s role in the world in more negative terms than Democrats and Democratic leaners. Republicans are also more likely to describe all tested problems in the U.S.-China relationship as very serious for the U.S. relative to Democrats. In many cases, however, differences are somewhat muted. To give one example, when it comes to China contributing to peace and stability in the world, large majorities of both Republicans (84%) and Democrats (80%) say it does not do so much or at all. Where the parties differ most tends to be the <em>intensity<\/em> of the sentiment. Republicans are around twice as likely as Democrats to say China does not contribute to peace and stability <em>at all<\/em> (40% vs. 21%). And in terms of ideology, conservative Republicans are often particularly negative toward China, even relative to more moderate and liberal Republicans. Nearly nine-in-ten conservative Republicans say China does not contribute much or at all to global peace and stability relative to around eight-in-ten moderate and liberal Republicans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35408\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dadddb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dadddb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-03.png?resize=480,406 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-03.png?resize=782,661 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-03.png?resize=840,710 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"355\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-03.png?w=420\" alt=\"Bar chart showing most Americans are critical of China\u2019s role in the world\" class=\"wp-image-35408 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Against this backdrop, Americans are somewhat skeptical about the possibility of cooperation with China. On issues like resolving international conflicts, climate change policy and combating the spread of infectious disease, Americans are more likely to say the U.S. <em>cannot<\/em> cooperate with China than say it can. However, there are two areas where Americans are more open to the possibility of collaboration with Beijing: student exchanges and trade and economic policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35404\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-04-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"efefee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #efefee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-04.png?resize=480,423 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-04.png?resize=782,689 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-04.png?resize=840,740 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"370\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-04.png?w=420\" alt=\"Dot plot showing Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say U.S. and China can cooperate on key issues\" class=\"wp-image-35404 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all groups are equally closed off to the possibility of cooperation, however. Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party, for example, tend to be much more amenable to working with China on all key issues mentioned than Republicans or GOP leaners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cMost things are a stretch in terms of working on things together with them \u2026 I think if we want to work with China on anything, it\u2019s probably going to have to be something economically beneficial.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em><em>Man, age 25<\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Younger Americans, too, see more opportunities to work with China than older Americans, in keeping with past surveys that have found that <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2022\/06\/29\/across-19-countries-more-people-see-the-u-s-than-china-favorably-but-more-see-chinas-influence-growing\/\">younger people tend to have more positive views of China<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/03\/08\/how-young-adults-want-their-country-to-engage-with-the-world\/\">tend to prioritize multilateralism<\/a>. And while people with higher levels of education are actually more critical of China on myriad issues and have more negative views of the country, they, too, tend to be more open to U.S. collaboration with China on a few issues than people with less formal education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are among the key findings of a new survey conducted by Pew Research Center on the Center\u2019s nationally representative American Trends Panel, among 3,576 adults from March 20 to 26, 2023.\u00a0Other key findings include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Despite their relative openness to collaborate with China on trade and economic policy, <strong>Americans see China getting more out of the current bilateral economic relationship than the U.S.<\/strong> Around half of Americans (47%) say China benefits more from the U.S.-China trade relationship than America, while 23% think they benefit equally and 7% think the U.S. benefits more. And this is not just general skepticism about trade: When asked the same question about the U.S.-Canada trade relationship, around half (48%) of Americans say the U.S. and Canada benefit equally and only 14% think Canada benefits more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Few Americans have confidence in Xi to do the right thing in world affairs<\/strong> \u2013 including nearly half who say they have no confidence <em>at all<\/em> in him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>China\u2019s \u201chard\u201d and \u201csoft\u201d power image in the U.S. is a mixed bag<\/strong>. About half of Americans see China\u2019s military as above average relative to other wealthy countries. But when it comes to its \u201csoft power\u201d image, around two-thirds of Americans see China\u2019s technological achievements as above average, but fewer say the same of its universities (29%) or pop culture (14%). And 45% see China\u2019s standard of living as <em>below<\/em> average.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fewer Americans see China as the world\u2019s leading economic power this year than last year.<\/strong> Today, 38% name China as the world\u2019s top economy, compared with 48% who name the U.S.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;us-adults-continue-to-hold-broadly-unfavorable-views-of-china&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"us-adults-continue-to-hold-broadly-unfavorable-views-of-china\">U.S. adults continue to hold broadly unfavorable views of China<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negative views of China continue to be high: 83% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of the country, including 44% who are <em>very<\/em> unfavorable (the highest share who have expressed this opinion since the Center started asking this question on the online American Trends Panel in 2020). Just 14% have a positive view of China \u2013 the lowest share recorded since the move to the online panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35400\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-05-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f6f7f6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f6f7f6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-05.png?resize=480,495 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-05.png?resize=782,806 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-05.png?resize=840,866 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"433\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-05.png?w=420\" alt=\"Line chart showing U.S. opinion of China remains negative\" class=\"wp-image-35400 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older Americans have more negative views of China than younger ones: 91% of those ages 65 and older say they have an unfavorable opinion of the country, compared with 75% of those 18 to 29. While older Americans\u2019 negative feelings of China have remained largely unchanged in recent years, younger adults have turned slightly more negative over the past two years, increasing from 68% to 75% unfavorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35397\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-06-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d0d9e0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d0d9e0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-06.png?resize=480,776 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-06.png?resize=620,1002 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"501\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-06.png?w=310\" alt=\"Bar chart showing over half of U.S. adults ages 50 and older are very unfavorable of China\" class=\"wp-image-35397 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although young adults hold relatively warmer views than older people on China, focus groups conducted this past winter with young adults highlighted the nuanced, critical views that younger Americans have when it comes to China. They often see China as the \u201c<a href=\"\/\/\/pew.pewtrusts.org\/PRC\/shared\/People-Press\/Global%20Attitudes\/2023%20GAP%20Surveys\/2023%20Annual%20GAP%20survey\/Reports\/U.S.%20views%20of%20China\/Drafts\/mf\/Young%20Adults%20in%20Europe%20Are%20Critical%20of%20the%20U.S.%20and%20China%20\u2013%20but%20for%20Different%20Reasons\">world\u2019s factory<\/a>,\u201d whose economic strength makes them impossible to ignore. Young Americans also worry about possible threats \u2013 both militarily and in terms of cybersecurity \u2013 posed by China. Some young adults see the U.S. and China as locked in a competition on the world stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2022\/04\/28\/chinas-partnership-with-russia-seen-as-serious-problem-for-the-us\/#h-unfavorable-views-of-china-at-new-high\">has often been the case<\/a>, Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party are more likely to hold an unfavorable opinion of China (89%) than Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (81%). Among Republicans, about two-thirds of conservatives are <em>very<\/em> unfavorable toward China, significantly more than the 43% of moderate or liberal Republicans who say the same. Majorities of Democrats are also more negative toward China than positive, though no more than about a third hold <em>very<\/em> negative views of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. adults with a college degree or higher education (87%) are also more likely to have an unfavorable opinion of China than those with some college or less (82%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;americans-are-more-likely-to-see-china-as-a-competitor-than-enemy-though-the-share-who-says-enemy-has-grown-over-the-past-year&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"americans-are-more-likely-to-see-china-as-a-competitor-than-enemy-though-the-share-who-says-enemy-has-grown-over-the-past-year\">Americans are more likely to see China as a competitor than enemy \u2013 though the share who says enemy has grown over the past year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked to label China as either a competitor, enemy or partner of the U.S., Americans are most likely to say China is a competitor (52%). This is a 10 percentage point drop from a year ago, when 62% of Americans saw China as a competitor. The share describing China as an enemy, however, has increased 13 points, from 25% in March 2022 to 38% \u2013 the highest recorded since 2021. Just 6% consider China a partner of the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWe\u2019re competing with China right now because it\u2019s the U.S. versus China trying to spread their global influence.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em><em>Man, age 25<\/em><\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats are significantly more likely than Republicans to categorize China as a competitor (64% vs. 41%), though the share saying this has fallen 9 percentage points since last year. Concurrently, the share of Democrats that see China as an enemy has increased from 12% to 27%. Among Republicans, the prevailing view is that China is an enemy of the U.S., with 53% calling China an enemy \u2013 up 11 points from last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35395\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-07-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dbdfdf\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dbdfdf;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?resize=480,339 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?resize=782,552 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?resize=960,678 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?resize=1200,848 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?resize=1280,904 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"452\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-07.png?w=640\" alt=\"Column chart showing about half of Republicans see China as an enemy\" class=\"wp-image-35395 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older Americans are more likely than younger ones to call China an enemy: Around half of those ages 65 and older say this, compared with only around a quarter of adults under 30 (54% vs. 23%, respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;chinas-international-intentions-are-viewed-negatively&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"chinas-international-intentions-are-viewed-negatively\">China\u2019s international intentions are viewed negatively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most Americans are critical of how China interacts with other countries. Eight-in-ten say China does not contribute much to peace and stability around the world, including roughly three-in-ten (29%) who say China makes no contributions <em>at all<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Majorities of Democrats and Republicans say China contributes little to world stability, but conservative Republicans are more likely than other partisans to discount China\u2019s contributions: 89% of conservative Republicans say China does not contribute much to world peace and stability. In comparison, around eight-in-ten moderate and liberal Republicans and Democrats of all ideological leanings say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35393\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-08-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3f3f3\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3f3f3;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?resize=480,253 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?resize=782,413 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?resize=960,507 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?resize=1200,634 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?resize=1280,676 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"338\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-08.png?w=640\" alt=\"Dot plot showing conservative Republicans are most critical of China\u2019s international behavior\" class=\"wp-image-35393 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Younger Americans ages 18 to 29 are least critical of China\u2019s contributions to international stability: 70% say China does not contribute much, compared with about eight-in-ten of those in older age groups who say the same. Americans with more formal education are also more likely than those who have less schooling to say China contributes little to peace and stability around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large majority of Americans (77%) say China puts little weight on the interests of other countries like the U.S. when making foreign policy decisions, with a third saying that China does not account for other countries\u2019 interests <em>at all<\/em>. Conservative Republicans are more likely than moderate Republicans or Democrats to hold this view, as are older Americans and those with more education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three-quarters of U.S. adults also say China interferes in the affairs of other countries. This includes more than three-in-ten who say China interferes <em>a great deal<\/em>. A greater share of Republicans sees China as interfering at least a fair amount in the affairs of other countries than Democrats do, but significant divisions within parties are present. Conservative Republicans are most likely to say China interferes in other countries\u2019 affairs, followed by liberal Democrats. Moderate and liberal Republicans are as likely as conservative and moderate Democrats to hold this view. Americans who are older or have more education are also more likely to say China interferes at least a fair amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35391\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-09-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f3f3f2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f3f3f2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-09.png?resize=480,454 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-09.png?resize=782,739 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-09.png?resize=840,794 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"397\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-09.png?w=420\" alt=\"Line chart showing majority of Americans see China\u2019s partnership with Russia as a very serious problem\" class=\"wp-image-35391 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans who <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/29\/americans-are-increasingly-worried-about-china-taiwan-tensions\/\">see Taiwan favorably<\/a> are more likely to say China interferes in the affairs of other countries. China recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/03\/30\/asia\/tsai-ing-wen-taiwan-new-york-city-china-response-intl-hnk\/index.html\">warned Taiwan&#8217;s President Tsai Ing-Wen<\/a> against stopping in the U.S. and meeting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. It also previously responded to a <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/taiwan-asia-navy-china-air-force-4bd08ab9ecd2a9f7d450cf61618d28af\">visit by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan<\/a> in August 2022 with extensive military drills around Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/29\/americans-are-increasingly-worried-about-china-taiwan-tensions\/\">Concern about tensions in China\u2019s relationship with Taiwan has also intensified<\/a>, with a record high share of Americans saying cross-strait tensions are a very serious problem (47%). Such worries about a strained relationship between China and Taiwan are more common among Americans with a favorable view of Taiwan, as well as Republicans and those ages 65 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe biggest fear of all is Russia and China having unlimited power.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>Wo<em><em>Man, age 2<\/em><\/em>6<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is also a great deal of concern about China\u2019s relationship with Russia: 62% say China\u2019s partnership with Russia poses a <em>very<\/em> serious problem for the U.S., up 5 percentage points since October 2022 and a return to levels last seen in March 2022, as the war in Ukraine was beginning. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/putin-meets-dear-friend-xi-kremlin-ukraine-war-grinds-2023-03-20\/\">Chinese President Xi visited Russia<\/a> and met with Russian President Putin while the survey was being conducted in March. The Department of Defense also reported in February that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/News-Stories\/Article\/Article\/3306439\/dod-official-says-us-not-yet-seeing-china-giving-lethal-aid-to-russia\/\">China has not ruled out the possibility of providing \u201clethal aid\u201d<\/a> to Russia for use in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see China\u2019s partnership with Russia as a very serious problem for the U.S., though at least six-in-ten in both parties hold this view. Older Americans are also more likely to see the partnership as a very serious problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;americans-no-longer-see-china-as-the-world-s-leading-economy-but-still-see-its-economic-strength-as-a-problem-for-the-u-s&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"americans-no-longer-see-china-as-the-world-s-leading-economy-but-still-see-its-economic-strength-as-a-problem-for-the-u-s\">Americans no longer see China as the world\u2019s leading economy, but still see its economic strength as a problem for the U.S.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35389\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-10-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f2f2f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f2f2f1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-10.png?resize=480,669 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-10.png?resize=620,864 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"432\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-10.png?w=310\" alt=\"Line chart showing growing share of Americans say U.S. is top economic power\" class=\"wp-image-35389 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans are 10 percentage points more likely to call the U.S. the world\u2019s leading economic power than China, a significant change from <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2022\/04\/28\/chinas-partnership-with-russia-seen-as-serious-problem-for-the-us\/\">last year<\/a> when the two were seen as equally powerful. Since then, China has seen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/chinas-economic-activity-uneven-jan-feb-after-covid-reopening-2023-03-15\/\">measured economic growth<\/a> after lifting its \u201czero COVID\u201d policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly half of Democrats (52%) say the U.S. is the world\u2019s leading economic power, while a third say China holds the top spot. Republicans are more divided: 46% say the U.S. is the top power and 45% say it is China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Men are more likely than women to say the U.S. is the world\u2019s leading economic power (57% vs. 40%), and women are more likely to say China is the top economy (43% vs. 34%). Older adults are somewhat more likely to say the U.S. is the leading economic power than younger adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35358\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-11-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e7de\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e7de;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-11.png?resize=480,875 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-11.png?resize=620,1130 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"565\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-11.png?w=310\" alt=\"Bar chart showing older Americans and conservatives more likely to see economic competition with China as a problem\" class=\"wp-image-35358 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, Americans are generally concerned about economic competition with China. Roughly eight-in-ten (81%) say it is at least a somewhat serious problem, including about one-third (36%) who say this is a <em>very<\/em> serious problem for the U.S. Though this is a slight decrease in the share who say it\u2019s a very serious problem since <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2022\/10\/19\/few-americans-see-a-third-xi-term-as-a-major-problem-for-the-u-s-other-concerns-about-china-have-grown\/\">October 2022<\/a>, the percentage of Americans who see economic competition with China as at least a somewhat serious problem has changed little since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Concern about economic competition is particularly high among those that call China the world\u2019s top economy: 44% of Americans who see China as the world\u2019s leading economic power say economic competition with China is a very serious problem. Roughly a third or fewer of those that view the U.S., Japan or the European Union in the top spot say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cFive years ago, microchip companies in China were popping up like crazy and now there is a shortage for us and everything is so expensive because everything we want is technology but we have to rely on China to get those things.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em><em>Man, age 2<\/em><\/em>9<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are also more likely than Democrats to say economic competition with China is a very serious issue. This is particularly true of conservative Republicans, who are 17 percentage points more likely than moderates or liberals to see competition with China as a very serious issue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked who benefits most from U.S.-China trade \u2013 the U.S., China, both countries or neither \u2013 nearly half of Americans (47%) say China gets more from the trade relationship. Just 7% think the U.S. benefits most. Another quarter of Americans (23%) say that both countries benefit equally, while only 2% say neither country does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35385\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-12-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2e5e8\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2e5e8;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=480,316 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=782,514 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=960,632 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=1200,790 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=1564,1029 1564w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=1600,1053 1600w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?resize=1830,1204 1830w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"421\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-12.png?w=640\" alt=\"Bar chart showing seven-in-ten conservative Republicans say China is main benefactor of U.S.-China trade relationship\" class=\"wp-image-35385 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say most benefits of U.S.-China trade belong to China (61% vs. 37%), Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say that both countries benefit equally from trade (29% vs. 17%). Men and older Americans are also more likely to see China as the main benefactor of trade, as are Americans with negative evaluations of the current economic situation in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To test whether attitudes on the benefits of trade are more about China or trade policies in general, we included comparison questions on trade with Canada, the United States\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/foreign-trade\/statistics\/highlights\/toppartners.html\">second largest trade partner<\/a>. And Americans see the trade relationship with Canada as far more balanced. Nearly half (48%) think that both countries benefit equally \u2013 more than double the share that say the same about trade with China. Just 14% say Canada benefits <em>more <\/em>than the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, there is no significant partisan difference in the shares that say both the U.S. and Canada benefit from trade with each other, though Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that Canada is the main benefactor (20% vs. 9%, respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;americans-offer-mixed-review-of-chinese-soft-and-hard-power&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"americans-offer-mixed-review-of-chinese-soft-and-hard-power\">Americans offer mixed review of Chinese \u2018soft\u2019 and \u2018hard\u2019 power<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSoft power\u201d \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/palcomms20178\">or a country\u2019s ability to influence by using the power of attraction<\/a> \u2013 is commonly thought to involve people viewing a country\u2019s technology, popular culture, universities and more in a positive light. When it comes to Americans\u2019 evaluations of Chinese \u201csoft power,\u201d the picture is mixed. Americans are complimentary of China\u2019s technological advancements but poorly rate or do not know its popular culture, and assessments of its universities and standard of living fall somewhere in the middle. Americans also see China\u2019s military \u2013 or \u201chard power\u201d \u2013 as relatively strong relative to other wealthy nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35383\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-13-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e6e9e6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e6e9e6;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?resize=480,281 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?resize=782,458 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?resize=960,563 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?resize=1200,703 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?resize=1280,750 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"375\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-13.png?w=640\" alt=\"Bar chart showing Americans regard China highly for their technology and military \" class=\"wp-image-35383 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two-thirds of Americans say China\u2019s technological achievements are either the best or above average, relative to other wealthy countries. Another 17% describe them as average, with only 5% saying they are below average or the worst (10% say they are not sure). Views differ little across age groups, education levels or among partisans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly three-in-ten Americans think Chinese universities are above average and a similar share (28%) say they are average. Few (11%) say they are below average, and another three-in-ten say they are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only 14% describe China\u2019s entertainment, including movies, music and television, as the best or above average relative to other wealthy countries. Around a third (30%) say they are average, and a nearly equal share says these pop culture products are either below average or the worst (29%) (around a quarter say they are not sure). Younger Americans are somewhat more likely to compliment Chinese pop cultural products than older people, though older Americans are also much more likely to say they are not sure one way or the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cChina doesn\u2019t necessarily have higher standards of living.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em><em>Man, age 2<\/em><\/em>0<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Few Americans (11%) see China\u2019s standard of living as high relative to other developed countries. While around a quarter say the Chinese standard of living is average (26%), a plurality of Americans (40%) say it\u2019s below average. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see it as below average or the worst in the world (52% vs. 41%), with conservative Republicans (56%) being somewhat more likely than moderate or liberal Republicans (48%), conservative or moderate Democrats (39%) or liberal Democrats (45%) to hold this view. Older people are also more likely than younger ones to see living standards in China as lower than those in other advanced economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Around half of Americans (51%) say that the Chinese military is either the best or above average, though few (3%) describe it as \u201cthe best\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2021\/11\/01\/americans-differ-from-people-in-other-societies-over-some-aspects-of-u-s-hard-and-soft-power\/\">in a 2021 survey, 44% of Americans described the American military as the best<\/a>). Older Americans are more likely to describe China\u2019s military as one of the best or above average: 60% of those ages 65 and older say this, relative to only around half or fewer among the other age groups. Republicans are more likely to describe China as a top military (56%) than Democrats (49%), with conservative Republicans particularly standing apart (59%) from moderate and liberal Republicans (51%). Men are also significantly more likely than women to hold this view (59% vs. 44%), though women are also more likely to say they are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Particularly when it comes to China\u2019s military or its technology, though, China\u2019s strength in these areas may not prove <em>attractive<\/em> to Americans, but rather might provoke concerns. For example, 84% of Americans describe China\u2019s military power as either a very or a somewhat serious problem for the U.S., with 44% describing it as very serious. And people who see China\u2019s military as one of the best in the world are much more likely than those who see it as less sophisticated to say China\u2019s military power is a very serious threat to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to China\u2019s growing technological power, 83% of Americans describe it as a very or somewhat serious problem for the U.S., including 40% who say it\u2019s very serious. Americans are also, by a more than two-to-one margin, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/31\/by-a-more-than-two-to-one-margin-americans-support-us-government-banning-tiktok\/\">supportive of the U.S. government banning TikTok<\/a>. This support is related to views on China: Those who are aware that the app\u2019s parent company, ByteDance, is located in China and those who have unfavorable views of the country are much more likely to support a ban of the social media platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cIt is a big thing to me to ensure that Russia, or China or any other country, isn\u2019t hacking us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em><em>Man, age 2<\/em><\/em>6<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans also broadly distrust Chinese social media companies. Nearly nine-in-ten (88%) say they have little or no confidence in them to follow what their privacy policies say they will do with personal information, including 59% who say they have no confidence at all. A large majority (87%) also don\u2019t believe Chinese social media companies will use their personal information in ways that they feel comfortable with \u2013 including 58% who have no confidence at all in these companies to handle their data. And, while some of this is indicative of general skepticism about how social media companies operate, Americans still have markedly less trust in Chinese social media companies to do these things than in American social media companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35379\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-14-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d0d9e1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d0d9e1;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?resize=480,264 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?resize=782,430 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?resize=960,528 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?resize=1200,660 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?resize=1280,704 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"352\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-14.png?w=640\" alt=\"Bar chart showing Americans have limited confidence in American social media companies but are even more wary of Chinese social media companies\" class=\"wp-image-35379 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35377\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-15-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dcdecc\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dcdecc;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-15.png?resize=480,650 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-15.png?resize=620,840 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"420\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-15.png?w=310\" alt=\"Bar chart showing conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are more concerned about China\u2019s human rights policies\" class=\"wp-image-35377 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s human rights policies also drag down its image. Roughly half of Americans consider China\u2019s human rights policies a very serious problem for the U.S. This is 5 percentage points greater than the share who said the same in October 2022. Those who say China\u2019s human rights policies are a very serious problem for the U.S. are 15 points more likely than those who consider them a less serious problem to see China unfavorably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are more likely than Democrats to see China\u2019s human rights policies as a very serious problem, but substantial differences within each party are present. Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are both more likely than their more moderate counterparts to consider human rights policies in China a very serious problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;roughly-half-in-the-u-s-have-no-confidence-at-all-in-xi-jinping&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"roughly-half-in-the-u-s-have-no-confidence-at-all-in-xi-jinping\">Roughly half in the U.S. have no confidence at all in Xi Jinping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roughly three-quarters of U.S. adults (77%) have no confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs, including about half (47%) who express no confidence at all. Just 8% in the U.S. have confidence in the Chinese leader. And 13% of Americans say they have never heard of Xi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35373\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-16-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d2d9e2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d2d9e2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-16.png?resize=480,782 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-16.png?resize=620,1010 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"505\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-16.png?w=310\" alt=\"Bar chart showing majority of Republicans have no confidence at all in Xi on world affairs\" class=\"wp-image-35373 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center has asked about <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2022\/09\/28\/how-global-public-opinion-of-china-has-shifted-in-the-xi-era\/#views-of-president-xi-jinping\">opinion of Xi<\/a> in the U.S. since 2014, about a year after he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2013\/03\/13\/world\/asia\/china-npc-xi-jinping\/index.html\">first took office<\/a>. Across these phone and online surveys, Americans have consistently had little confidence in Xi. However, this year, due to the inclusion of an explicit option for respondents to say they have \u201cnever heard of this person,\u201d results are not directly comparable with past surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Older Americans \u2013 those ages 50 and older \u2013 are more likely than their younger counterparts to say they have no confidence at all in Xi\u2019s ability to do the right thing regarding world affairs. For example, 55% of U.S. adults 65 and older hold this view, compared with 32% of those 18 to 29. However, younger Americans are more likely to say they have never heard of Xi (27%) than those in any other age group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Confidence in the Chinese president also varies by partisanship: 57% of Republicans have no confidence at all in Xi, compared with 40% of Democrats. Among Republicans, conservatives are the most likely to have no confidence whatsoever in Xi (63%), compared with moderates or liberals (47%). And among Democrats, liberals tend to express less confidence overall in Xi (45%) than conservatives or moderates (36%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans who have a college degree or more education have more negative views of the Chinese leader than those with some college or less (84% vs. 74%, respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;cooperation-between-the-u-s-and-china-seen-as-unlikely&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cooperation-between-the-u-s-and-china-seen-as-unlikely\">Cooperation between the U.S. and China seen as unlikely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-style-320-wide is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI don\u2019t know what we could possibly work with them on. Certainly not the climate.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>Wo<em><em>Man, age 2<\/em><\/em>5<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked about five possible areas for cooperation between the U.S. and China, Americans express skepticism about partnering together on most issues. Americans are more likely than not to say the U.S. and China cannot work together to resolve international conflicts (54%) or cooperate on climate change policy (52%). The U.S. and China previously issued a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/u-s-china-joint-glasgow-declaration-on-enhancing-climate-action-in-the-2020s\/\"> joint climate agreement<\/a> in 2021, and climate talks between the two countries <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2022\/11\/14\/business\/china-us-climate-change.html\">resumed late last year<\/a> after being suspended over Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit to Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35370\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-17-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2e5e5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2e5e5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?resize=480,252 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?resize=782,411 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?resize=960,504 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?resize=1200,630 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?resize=1280,672 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"336\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-17.png?w=640\" alt=\"Bar chart showing Americans pessimistic about working with China to handle international conflicts, climate change or the spread of infectious diseases\" class=\"wp-image-35370 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A similar share say that the two countries cannot cooperate on dealing with the spread of infectious diseases. In 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2020\/07\/30\/americans-fault-china-for-its-role-in-the-spread-of-covid-19\/#americans-are-critical-of-chinas-role-in-the-spread-of-covid-19\">about eight-in-ten Americans<\/a> said China\u2019s initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan contributed at least a fair amount to the global spread of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Americans are more optimistic about cooperating with China on trade and economic policy and on student exchange programs. At least half say the two countries can cooperate on each issue. Still, as recently as 2021, Americans thought it was <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/03\/04\/most-americans-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-human-rights-economic-issues\/#americans-favor-tougher-stance-on-china-economic-policies-question-efficacy-of-tariffs\">more important for the U.S. to get tougher on China about trade and economic policy<\/a> than to focus on building a stronger relationship. That same year, a majority of Americans <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2021\/03\/04\/most-americans-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-human-rights-economic-issues\/#americans-generally-welcome-international-pupils-but-widespread-support-for-limits-on-chinese-students\">supported limits on Chinese students in U.S. universities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are more skeptical about whether the U.S. can work with China on these issues than Democrats are. The difference is greatest when it comes to cooperating on handling the spread of infectious diseases (65% of Republicans think the countries cannot cooperate vs. 43% of Democrats who say the same) and climate change policy (63% vs. 44%). Americans who say that the U.S. should not compromise with other countries when making foreign policy decisions are also more likely than those who say the U.S. should account for the interest of other countries in its foreign policy to say the U.S. and China cannot cooperate on each of the five issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with other issues in the U.S.-China relationship, older Americans have more skepticism about the U.S. cooperating with China than younger Americans. For example, 51% of Americans ages 65 and older say the U.S. and China cannot cooperate on trade and economic policy, while 27% of Americans 18 to 29 say the same (a 24 percentage point difference).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-35366\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/pg_2023-04-12_u-s-views-china_0-18-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f0f0ef\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f0f0ef;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?resize=480,226 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?resize=782,368 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?resize=960,452 960w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?resize=1200,564 1200w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?resize=1280,602 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"301\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_0-18.png?w=640\" alt=\"Table showing older Americans are less optimistic about the possibility of cooperation with China on key issues\" class=\"wp-image-35366 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most Americans see little ability for the U.S. and China to cooperate on climate change policy or combating the spread of infectious disease. A majority of Americans continue to view the China-Russia partnership as a very serious problem for the U.S.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":578,"featured_media":35425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"Most see little ability for the U.S. and China to cooperate","sub_title":"Most see little ability for the U.S. and China to cooperate","_crdt_document":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","relatedPosts":[{"key":"_tn9rdi1l9","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/03\/31\/by-a-more-than-two-to-one-margin-americans-support-us-government-banning-tiktok\/","postId":427525,"title":"By more than two-to-one, Americans support U.S. government banning TikTok","date":"2023-03-31T09:58:24","label":"Short Read"}],"reportMaterials":[{"key":"_vj5ami97u","type":"report","attachmentId":35364,"url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_REPORT.pdf"},{"key":"_xwq9nx0qx","type":"topline","attachmentId":35362,"url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_TOPLINE.pdf"}],"multiSectionReport":[{"key":"_c87giqenz","postId":28032},{"key":"_ml3bpsggs","postId":28048}],"package_parts__enabled":false,"package_parts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"bylines":[{"key":"_73wcqyxnn","termId":954},{"key":"_35zgf362p","termId":738},{"key":"_bji86l17r","termId":633},{"key":"_xxsabjac0","termId":849}],"acknowledgements":[],"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[122,119,96,446,250],"tags":[],"bylines":[738,633,954,849],"collection":[],"datasets":[2420],"level_of_effort":[],"primary_audience":[],"information_type":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[458],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[507,506,516,514,505,508],"research-teams":[525],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-28038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bilateral-relations","category-china-global-image","category-defense-national-security","category-global-balance-power","category-global-trade","bylines-christine-huang","bylines-laura-clancy","bylines-laura-silver","bylines-moira-fagan","datasets-american-trends-panel-wave-124","formats-report","regions-countries-asia-pacific","regions-countries-china","regions-countries-europe-russia","regions-countries-international","regions-countries-multiple-regions-worldwide","regions-countries-russia","research-teams-global"],"label":false,"post_parent":0,"word_count":4793,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2023\/04\/12\/americans-are-critical-of-chinas-global-role-as-well-as-its-relationship-with-russia\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":35425,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_featured-jpg.webp","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/04\/PG_2023.04.12_U.S.-Views-China_featured-jpg.webp?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in front of a military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing in June 2018. 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