Public Sees Both Good And Bad In China's Rise

(Week of 4/28/2012) The rapid economic rise of China is quickly changing the landscape of world politics and American foreign policy. In the latest Economist/YouGov poll, Americans express a view about China’s rise that is neither optimistic nor pessimistic. 44% say China’s rise is both a good and bad thing, as opposed to 30% who say it is a bad thing and only 6% who say it is a good thing. 21% aren’t sure. The parties show considerable division on this matter — nearly 50% Democrats see China’s rise as both good and bad, but 43% of Republicans see it as a bad thing.

When asked how the U.S. should respond to China’s rise, Americans overwhelmingly express the view that the U.S. should be neither too friendly nor too confrontational. Only 19% say the U.S. should work closely with China, and only 4% say the U.S. should form a military alliance with other Asian countries to counterbalance China. Instead, 63% of respondents say the U.S. should focus on growing its economy so that it can better deal with China in the future.

Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here

Photo source: Press Association