Individuals are more and more seeing China as an “enemy” of the U.S. fairly than a competitor, reflecting rising public skepticism over the flexibility for the world’s two largest economies to cooperate, based on a brand new survey by the Pew Analysis Heart.
Some 38% of respondents to the survey labeled China as an “enemy,” up 13 proportion factors from final yr. Greater than half these polled described China as a “competitor,” whereas simply 6% mentioned the nation was a “companion” of the U.S.
The survey of greater than 3,500 U.S. adults, which was taken in late March and printed Wednesday, additionally discovered that 83% of respondents had “unfavorable opinions” of China — up one proportion level from 2022. The Pew report drew upon focus teams carried out in Virginia late final yr, too.
“Persons are broadly involved about China’s function on this planet,” the Pew researchers wrote within the report, which additionally highlighted worries about Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin within the aftermath of the continuing battle in Ukraine. “Few Individuals trust in Xi to do the correct factor in world affairs — together with almost half who say they don’t have any confidence in any respect in him.”
Learn Extra: U.S. Normal’s Prediction of Struggle With China ‘in 2025’ Dangers Turning Worst Fears Into Actuality
The report underscores the worsening U.S.-China relationship, which soured in the course of the Trump administration with the commerce battle and was additional strained in the course of the pandemic, which former President Donald Trump known as a “Chinese language plague.” The nations additionally tussled over allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong.
Ties have continued to deteriorate below President Joe Biden, with Xi in March accusing the U.S. of “containment” over China’s technological advances. An alleged Chinese language spy balloon was additionally shot down over American skies lately, prompting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to name off his go to to China.
Taiwan has been one other ache level: Conferences between President Tsai Ing-wen’s and main U.S. political leaders have led Beijing to up navy stress on the island. Beijing sees the democracy as a part of its territory, and issues a couple of potential battle have been rising.
Learn Extra: China Performs Lengthy Recreation With Response to Taiwan President Visiting U.S.
Overseas Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin mentioned he wouldn’t touch upon survey outcomes however blamed “anti-China forces” for spreading disinformation about his nation, deceptive public opinion.
“China is dedicated to peaceable improvement,” he mentioned Thursday at a daily press briefing in Beijing. “Our improvement is a chance for the world, not a problem to anybody.”
The Pew survey discovered that 47% of respondents assume tensions between China and Taiwan are “very critical,” a document excessive share. Some 62% of these surveyed additionally cited the China-Russia partnership as a “very critical” situation, too.
Practically half of the survey’s respondents now see the U.S. because the world’s main financial energy whereas solely about 40% see China on prime — a marked change from final yr, when opinion was divided equally between the 2.
Even so, round eight in 10 Individuals mentioned financial competitors with China was not less than a “considerably critical” downside.”
—With help from Philip Glamann.
Extra Should-Reads From TIME