A recent poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs reveals that a significant majority of Americans hold a historically low opinion of China, prompting calls for the U.S. to intensify efforts to curb China’s growing influence.
Respondents were asked to rate their feelings toward China on a scale of 0 to 100, with an average score of just 26, down from 32 in 2022. This marks the lowest score since the Council began tracking public sentiment after the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China in 1978.
Despite the declining favorability, the survey indicated that Americans do not want competition to escalate into conflict, emphasizing that the primary goal in U.S.-China relations should be to prevent military confrontation.
Economic ties have historically stabilized U.S.-China relations, but these connections are now under scrutiny. More than half of the respondents (56%) believe that trade with China undermines U.S. national security, and 79% support blocking American companies from selling sensitive high-tech products to China, a notable increase from 71% three years ago.
The poll also showed that opinions on trade barriers against China vary along party lines. Overall, this approach is becoming less popular, with 55% of Americans backing higher tariffs on Chinese goods, down from 62% in 2021, though support remains stronger among Republicans.
Distrust toward China has been on the rise since the trade war during the Trump administration and escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with President Biden in office, tensions in geopolitics and trade continue to fuel negative sentiments toward China.
It’s worth noting that the poll was conducted from June 21 to July 1 and was released less than two weeks before the upcoming presidential election on October 24.
While U.S.-China relations may not be the primary focus for candidates in this election cycle, China remains central to both parties’ foreign policy discussions. For instance, during the sole televised debate in September, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump engaged in a heated exchange over who takes a tougher stance against Beijing.
Craig Kafura, the Council’s Director of Foreign Policy, noted that there is strong support for a tough approach toward China, particularly among Republicans. However, bipartisan consensus on how to formulate more effective policies to address the challenges posed by China remains elusive.
