Tensions are rising between the US and China. Data from Pew Research Centre reflects growing hostility among Americans toward their newest big challenger:
- 81% of U.S. adults hold unfavourable, or very unfavourable, opinions of China.
- 92% of Americans see China as a competitor (50%) or an enemy (42%).
It goes both ways. The majority of Chinese people polled by the Eurasia Group also have strongly negative views of the United States.
The bottom line
As usual — for this newsletter — there's an economic basis to the rise of anti-China sentiment in the US.
One factor driving negative perceptions of China are America's economic problems. The data shows that anti-China views are particularly strong among those who believe the U.S. economy is struggling.
Ominously, around half of Americans think "limiting China’s power" should be a top U.S. foreign policy priority. The survey did not ask 'how" that should be done.
America's runaway debt problem indicates that these tensions will get a lot worse befor they get better. China has problems of its own, so there is plenty of room for this conflict worsen, or even break out into war.
However, both countries have monetary weaknesses that could prevent the rush to war.
No matter who wins the US presidential election, expect the pressure to increase.
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