In a recent interview with Craig Kafura, the Director of Foreign Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, he discussed the results of a new poll that reveals a significant decline in American sentiment towards China. The survey, conducted between June 21 and July 1, was released just two weeks ahead of the presidential election, and it shows that American attitudes towards China have reached a historic low.

Kafura explained that respondents were asked to rate their feelings towards China on a scale from 0 to 100, and the average score came in at just 26, down from 32 in 2022. This marks the lowest rating since polling began following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1978.

Interestingly, despite the decline in favorable ratings, the poll indicates that most Americans are not advocating for military confrontation. The primary concern among respondents is to avoid any military conflict, which Kafura highlighted as a key takeaway.

Economic ties, once seen as a stabilizing force in U.S.-China relations, are now under scrutiny. Over half of the respondents (56%) believe that trade with China undermines U.S. national security, and 79% support blocking U.S. companies from selling sensitive high-tech products to China, an increase from 71% three years ago.

Kafura pointed out that opinions on trade barriers vary along party lines, but there is a noticeable trend away from supporting these measures overall. Currently, 55% of Americans favor raising tariffs on Chinese goods, a decrease from 62% in 2021, with Republican respondents showing stronger support for tariffs.

The growing distrust of China began during the Trump administration with the onset of a trade war, and it intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even under President Biden, who has continued a confrontational approach, this sentiment has persisted.

Kafura noted that while U.S.-China relations might not be a central focus of the current election, they remain a critical topic in foreign policy discussions. He recalled the recent debate in September, where Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clashed over who would take a tougher stance on Beijing.

In conclusion, Kafura emphasized the strong support for a hardline approach towards China, particularly among Republicans, but acknowledged that there remains a lack of bipartisan consensus on how to effectively address the challenges posed by China.