Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tour of the United States comes at a time of many tensions between the two nations. Our surveys capture American public opinion toward China, and Chinese public opinion toward the U.S.
The view that torture may be justified is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where a median of 55% hold this view; it is least common in Latin America (a median of 25%). In the U.S., 58% say torture can be justified as part of efforts to prevent terrorist attacks.
Most people in China say they are better off financially than they were five years ago. At the same time, they’re worried about corrupt officials, air and water pollution, crime and economic inequality.
Sub-Saharan Africans are feeling positive about their current and long-term economic prospects compared with those in other regions of the world. However, they still see the need for more foreign aid and are concerned about the serious challenges facing them, especially when it comes to better health care and jobs.
Americans see a number of economic threats from China, but they are also worried about cyberattacks, Bejing’s human rights record, China’s impact on the environment and its growing military strength.