---
title: "Friend or Foe? How Americans See China"
description: "When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Washington next week, he will be greeted by an American public that looks to Asia- -- rather than to Europe -- as the region of the world most important to U.S. interests."
date: "2011-01-13"
authors:
  - name: "Tom Rosentiel"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2011/01/13/friend-or-foe-how-americans-see-china/"
categories:
  - "Bilateral Relations"
  - "Global Image of Countries"
  - "International Affairs"
---

# Friend or Foe? How Americans See China

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center
Special to *The Wall Street Journal*

When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Washington next week, he will be greeted by an American public that looks to Asia- -- rather than to Europe -- as the region of the world most important to U.S. interests. This marks a major change from the 1990s, when Americans still considered Europe more important than Asia, even despite concern about Japan's supposed ascendance. Today, Europe has taken a back seat.

A [new nationwide poll](../../pubs/1855/china-poll-americans-want-closer-ties-but-tougher-trade-policy) by the Pew Research Center finds Americans considering Asia more important by a 47%-to-37% margin. In 1993, the balance of public opinion was the opposite: 50% considered Europe most important, 31% Asia. Questioned today about their interest in news from various countries, 34% of Americans say they are very interested in news from China, while far fewer say the same about France (6%), Germany (11%), Italy (11%) and even Great Britain (17%).

Public interest in China is not just academic. A large majority [correctly identifies China](../../pubs/1478/political-iq-quiz-knowledge-filibuster-debt-colbert-steele) as the country that holds the most American debt. Growing numbers of Americans also see China -- incorrectly -- as the world's leading economic power. Pew Research's latest survey finds 47% of respondents [citing China as the world's top economic power](../../pubs/1855/china-poll-americans-want-closer-ties-but-tougher-trade-policy), and only 31% correctly citing the U.S. In early 2008, the balance of opinion was the opposite: 41% named the U.S., while 30% named China.

[Read the full commentary at wsj.com](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703791904576076271559977248.html).