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Americans see China as less of a threat
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-18 23:21
Americans still perceive China as a danger to their country, but they do not
see it as an adversary and believe it will grow in importance in the future, a
Pew Research Institute survey found.
A paramilitary policeman stands guard in Tienanmen Square in
Beijing in February 2005. Americans still perceive China as a danger to
their country, but they do not see it as an adversary and believe it will
grow in importance in the future, a Pew Research Institute survey found.
[AFP] |
In contrast with four years ago
when a majority of opinion leaders viewed China as the biggest danger to the
United States, today China, North Korea and Iran are mentioned about as
frequently, said the poll published Thursday.
China is also not seen as an adversary and is not causing concern as an
emerging global power, according to the poll of 2,006 Americans and 520 opinion
leaders in the media, church, state and local government, military, science and
engineering and foreign affairs. It was conducted in September and October.
Those who most often cited China as the greatest current danger to the United
States were academic and think tank leaders (34 percent), followed by state and
local government leaders (27 percent).
Military leaders considered China and Iran equal in danger (23 percent for
each)
Foreign affairs leaders viewed North Korea as more of a threat than China (26
to 23 percent), with Iran a close third at 21 percent.
The general public perceived Iraq as the biggest danger to the United States
(18 percent), followed by China (16 percent), North Korea and Iran (13 percent
each).
North Korea's nuclear program is a cause of great concern for about 66
percent in all groups, with scientists and engineers the least concerned (42
percent) and news media the most (72 percent).
Iran's nuclear program is a smaller source of concern: 61 percent in all
groups.
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