In a recent survey conducted by the annual Regan Defense Forum Survey, it has been revealed that the number of Americans who view China as an “enemy” of the U.S. is growing, while a majority supports a buildup of American military personnel to deter a potential invasion of Taiwan. The survey indicates that 77% of Americans now view China as an enemy, while just 15% consider the nation as an ally. This marks a significant shift from 2018, when the survey found that 38% of Americans viewed China as an ally and 55% as an enemy.
Moreover, the survey shows that a majority of Americans (51%) consider China as the greatest threat facing the nation, which is an increase from 43% last year and 21% in 2018. Interestingly, the number of Americans viewing Russia as the greatest threat is declining, with only 24% considering Russia as such, down from 31% last year following its invasion of Ukraine.
The survey also highlights that a strong majority of Americans (58%) support the security pact known as AUKUS, which is a defense technology sharing agreement between the U.S., U.K., and Australia aimed at countering China’s growing power globally. Only 22% of respondents opposed the pact, while 20% were unsure.
When asked about their concerns regarding China, 20% of Americans stated that its military buildup worried them the most, while another 20% expressed concerns about China’s human rights abuses, particularly its mistreatment of the Uyghur minority population. Additionally, 17% were worried about China’s foreign policy, 15% about its economic practices, and 10% pointed to the threat against Taiwan.
Regarding Taiwan, the survey revealed that 72% of Americans would support officially recognizing Taiwan if China were to invade, while only 15% would oppose such action. Furthermore, 46% of respondents stated that they would support committing American ground troops to defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion, while 35% would oppose such a move. In order to deter an invasion, 60% expressed support for increasing the U.S. military presence near Taiwan, with just 25% opposed. Additionally, 55% of respondents would support increasing arms sales to Taiwan as a deterrent, while 28% were against it.
Interestingly, a majority of 65% of Americans felt that the U.S. government’s focus on Ukraine was distracting policymakers from the threat posed by China.
In terms of military capabilities, 34% of respondents believed that the U.S. was superior to China, while 28% considered China to be superior. Regarding economic strength and diplomatic influence, the plurality gave the U.S. the advantage. However, China held the advantage concerning cyber capabilities and artificial intelligence.
The survey, which was conducted from October 27 to November 5, involved the participation of 2,506 U.S. adults. It serves as a significant indicator of the shifting attitudes towards China and the growing concerns about its actions and intentions.
