It is widely believed that most Americans not only distrust but also
despise China. Considering the country's violent political history,
unprecedented economic rise, and growing military capabilities, China
has become America's strongest market competitor and arguably the most
challenging global threat to the United States.
Nevertheless, a full consideration of American opinion proves the
opposite to be true. Carefully analyzing all available polls and
surveys, Benjamin I. Page and Tao Xie find most Americans favor peaceful
engagement with China. The public view has been surprisingly coherent
and consistent, changing only in response to major events and new
information.
While a majority of Americans are not happy that China's economy is
projected to become as large as that of the United States, they are
prepared to live with it. "Unfair" Chinese trade practices and their
impact on American jobs and wages are a concern, along with the quality
and safety of Chinese-made goods. However, Americans favor free trade
with China, provided it is tempered with environmental and workplace
protections. They also believe that the United States should "balance"
Chinese power through alliances with neighboring countries, such as
Japan. Yet they oppose military action to defend Taiwan. Page and Xie
examine these opinions in relation to facts about China and in light of
current U.S. debates on diplomacy and policy.