Americans’ opinions of China have soured in recent years, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. But what are Americans thinking about when they say they have a negative view of China? To find out, we asked members of our American Trends Panel to describe, in their own words, the first things that come to mind when they think about China.
Respondents focused primarily on the Chinese government – including its policies or how it behaves internationally – as well as its economy. Overall, around one-in-five U.S. adults mentioned human rights or the economy when thinking about China, while 17% mentioned the country’s political system. 13% mentioned the perceived threat that China poses, and 12% mentioned the U.S.-China relationship.
