--- title: "How people in Asia-Pacific view China" description: "Ahead of the 19th National Congress in China, read key findings about how the country is viewed by its neighbors." date: "2017-10-16" authors: - name: "Laura Silver" job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/laura-silver/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/" categories: - "China Global Image" - "Leaders" - "World Leaders" --- # How people in Asia-Pacific view China [![Large minority of Chinese prefer both creative and academic schooling](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/08/FT_17.08.28_GlobalEducation_LargeMinority.png?w=122)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/08/FT_17.08.28_GlobalEducation_LargeMinority.png) [![Many in Asia-Pacific countries say they are concerned about China's growing military power. Here, a farewell ceremony for the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning on July 11 in Hong Kong. (Xu Dongdong/VCG via Getty Images)](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FT_17.10.13_china.jpg)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/ft_17-10-13_china/) *Many in Asia-Pacific countries say they are concerned about China’s growing military power. Here, a farewell ceremony for the fleet of China’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, on July 11 in Hong Kong. (Xu Dongdong/VCG via Getty Images)* This week, China convenes its [19th National Congress](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/31/c_136571643.htm), a gathering closely watched by those seeking to understand power shifts and policy changes within the world’s most populous country. The meeting will feature a review of the Communist Party’s work over the past five years, including China’s [foreign policy and its relations with its neighbors](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/29/c_136565429.htm). Pew Research Center’s 2017 Global Attitudes Survey explored China’s image in the Asia-Pacific region. Here are four key findings about how China is viewed by its neighbors: ] [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/FT_17.10.12_AsiaPacific_China_economy.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/ft_17-10-12_asiapacific_china_economy/) **Views of China’s economic growth are mixed across the Asia-Pacific region. **There is little consensus among the seven countries surveyed there about whether China’s growing economy is more of a good thing or a bad thing for their country. Three say the former, two the latter and two are nearly evenly split. Australians are most positive about China’s economic growth; by a three-to-one margin, more people say China’s economic growth is good for Australia than bad. In contrast, only 20% of Indians see China’s economic rise as a good thing for their country. The Asia-Pacific region is also one of the regions where most people name the U.S., not China, as the [top global economic power](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2017/07/13/more-name-u-s-than-china-as-worlds-leading-economic-power/). ] [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/FT_17.10.12_AsiaPacific_China_military.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/ft_17-10-12_asiapacific_china_military/) **Most in the region worry about China’s growing military power. **China’s [official military budget](https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2017_China_Military_Power_Report.PDF) grew by about 9% per year over the past decade, and few of its neighbors appear to welcome the increase. In South Korea, Japan and Vietnam – countries actively engaged in disputes with China over [military deployments](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-china-idUSKBN1AL0OW) or territory in the [East and South China seas](https://www.cfr.org/interactives/chinas-maritime-disputes?cid=otr-marketing_use-china_sea_InfoGuide#!/chinas-maritime-disputes?cid=otr-marketing_use-china_sea_InfoGuide) – nine-in-ten or more think China’s growing military power is a bad thing for their country. In India, even before a recent [border dispute](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/world/asia/china-india-standoff-withdrawal.html?mcubz=1) in the Himalayas, people had a negative view of Beijing by a more than three-to-one margin. ] [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/FT_17.10.12_AsiaPacific_China_powerInfluence.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/ft_17-10-12_asiapacific_china_powerinfluence/) **Although** **China’s power and influence is not seen as **[**a top threat globally**](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2017/08/01/globally-people-point-to-isis-and-climate-change-as-leading-security-threats/#in-asia-pacific-views-of-top-threats-vary)**, ****many in Asia-Pacific ****countries**** see it a key concern.** Outside the region, a median of 27% see China’s power and influence as a major threat to their country. But among the seven Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, a median of 47% see it as a major threat. South Koreans and Vietnamese even rate China’s power and influence as the *top* threat facing their nations. Concerns about China also outpace concerns about the United States across the region; a median of 35% say U.S. power and influence is a major threat to their country. ] [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2017/10/FT_17.10.12_AsiaPacific_China_xi.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/10/16/how-people-in-asia-pacific-view-china/ft_17-10-12_asiapacific_china_xi/) **Few in the region express confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping.** Most observers expect Xi to begin his second of two five-year terms at the 19th National Congress. Among China’s neighbors, however, there is limited confidence in him to do the right thing regarding world affairs. A median of 34% across the Asia-Pacific region say they have a lot or some confidence in him, ranging from a high of 53% in the Philippines to a low of 11% in Japan – a country where not even 1% say they have a lot of confidence in him. In India, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, Xi ranks behind U.S. President Donald Trump. Notably, however, in two U.S. treaty-allies in the region, Australia and South Korea, people have more confidence in Xi than in Trump. *Note: See** *[*here*](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/10/13143136/Pew-Research-Center-Asian-Views-of-China-TOPLINE-FOR-RELEASE.pdf)* **for topline results and *[*methodology*](https://www.pewresearch.org/methodology/international-survey-research/international-methodology/global-attitudes-survey/all-country/2017/)*.*