Americans name China as the country posing the greatest threat to the U.S.
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
A median of 76% of adults in the 24 countries surveyed say China does not take into account the interests of other countries in its foreign policy. Majorities in most countries also say China does not contribute to global peace and stability.
We examine how the U.S. and China stack up to one another on more than 10 measures of international public opinion, spanning from confidence in their leaders to views of their universities and technological achievements.
The Chinese Communist Party is preparing for its 20th National Congress, an event likely to result in an unprecedented third term for President Xi Jinping. Since Xi took office in 2013, opinion of China in the U.S. and other advanced economies has turned more negative. How did it get to be this way?
More countries still name the U.S. as the foremost economic power than say the same of China. And, even in nations that welcome China’s economic growth, few feel similarly about its growing military might.
Negative views of China predominate in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. China also receives unfavorable marks from many neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region.
President Trump and his policies continue to receive negative reviews from people worldwide, with a lack of confidence in his leadership especially common in Western Europe. While views of the U.S. are positive overall, they vary widely among some of its key allies.
People around the world agree that climate change poses a severe risk to their countries, according to a 26-nation survey conducted in spring 2018. Terrorism, specifically from ISIS, and cyberattacks are also seen by many as major security threats.
People have taken note that China continues to play an ever-larger role in world affairs. Yet a lack of enthusiasm for Chinese world leadership persists.
Donald Trump’s international image remains poor, and ratings for the U.S. have declined since his election. Yet most people around the world still want the U.S., not China, as the world’s leading power.
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