Survey: Most Americans Now Have an Unfavorable Impression of China

Most Americans now have a “very unfavorable” or “mostly unfavorable” view of China, according to a survey released by the Gallup Organization on March 3, 2008. 55% of the 1,007 adults contacted by phone in mid-February had a negative opinion of China. This is a dramatic shift from 2007, when 47% of those polled had unfavorable views toward China and 48% had favorable views.

Gallup believes the survey is accurate within 3%. Those queried were asked, “What is your overall opinion of China? Is it very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable?” 

Gallup has been asking Americans about China for many years. The Gallup graph at the top of the article illustrates how views have fluctuated over the past three decades. High points for “favorable” views were right after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in 1979 (64% favorable) in early 1989 (72% favorable, just prior to the suppression of pro-democracy protests).

Opinions toward China varied considerably, however, depending on the age and political affiliation of the respondent. 60% of those under age 35 and 46% of Democrats held a favorable opinion of China, significantly higher rates than the population as a whole. 

It’s clear that China’s economic rise is responsible for much of the shift, especially among those who fear this rise comes at the expense of Americans. In February, Gallup released data from the same survey. In that report, Gallup noted that a plurality of Americans felt that China had become “the leading economic power in the world.” A larger plurality of those surveyed felt that in twenty years, China would be the leading economic power in the world. The contrast to the responses to identical questions in 2000 is remarkable. 

These are, of course, perceptions. By any measure, the U.S. economy is much larger than that of China. The World Bank recently revised its estimate of the size of the Chinese economy, judging it to be less than half the size of the Unites States’ $14 trillion economy.

The results of this survey may be contrasted with those released in December 2007 by the Committee of 100. The Chinese American organization had Zogby International carry out a phone survey in August and September. It polled 1,200 randomly selected members of the general public, 200 “opinion leaders”, 150 business leaders, and 100 congressional staffers. Apart from the last group, in each case a majority of those surveyed had a favorable impression of China. Again, except for congressional staffers, the 2007 poll showed fewer Americans having a favorable impression of China. 

While the exact proportion of Americans with unfavorable views of China is unclear, it is certain that it is growing. Economic issues such as fear of job losses and the implications of the widening trade gap are paramount in this shift, but concerns about product safety and human rights abuses are also at work. A successfully hosted Summer Olympics this summer should do much to lift opinion towards China. Certainly, American elected officials must be cognizant of popular perceptions in formulating policies toward China. This is especially true in an election year.

Gallup asked its 1,007 American adults about a total of 22 countries. Americans continue to feel most favorably about Canada (92% saying they had very or mostly favorable opinion toward the country) and Great Britain (89%). Iran and North Korea were the least popular nations, with 88% and 82% of those surveyed having an unfavorable view towards them.

Additional details about the survey’s methodology and findings are available at the Gallup website. Click here for details on the favorable/unfavorable survey results and here for details on the economic power survey. Click here for the USCI summary of the Committee of 100 survey.