6 facts about how Americans and Chinese see each other
On a list of possible issues with China, Americans are most concerned about economic issues, cybersecurity and human rights. Specifically, the amount of U.S. debt held by China and the loss of jobs to China are Americans' top worries, but cyberattacks and Beijing's human rights record aren't far behind.
Republicans are more critical of China compared with Democrats. From U.S. debt held by China to the loss of U.S. jobs and China's growing military power, Republicans are far more concerned about these issues as a very serious problem than are Democrats. The exception is China's impact on the environment, which worries Democrats more.
Young people in both countries express more favorable attitudes of the other nation. Americans ages 18-29 are more than twice as likely as those ages 50 or older to have a favorable opinion of China (55% vs. 27%). Similarly, 59% of Chinese adults under 30 give the U.S. a positive rating, compared with 29% of those 50 and older. And younger Chinese also find U.S. soft power more appealing – for example, 59% said they like American ideas about democracy in our 2012 poll, compared with 40% of the 50 and older group.
Note: This post was originally published on Sept. 22, 2015, and has been updated.
