US

Survey: Americans in favor of China’s rise

Updated: 2011-01-19 13:47

By Lu Chang (China Daily)

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WASHINGTON - A new survey found that many Americans want the United States to build a stronger relationship with China instead of trying to constrain its rising power.

The survey, conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a nonpartisan organization, found that more than two-thirds of slightly more than 2,500 Americans polled preferred more cooperation and engagement from the US.

Three-quarters of those polled believe that someday China’s economy might grow to be as large as the US economy, while a minority views the development of China as a “critical” threat.

“Basically how I view China’s rising is not as something scary and threatening as you’ve seen in a lot of American newspapers. I view China as a nation that we need to work with a lot more in the future diplomatically, as well as in economic issues,” said Elisa Rosoff, a 20-year-old undergraduate majoring in foreign relations at George Washington University. “It’s just exciting for someone of my age going through a power shift between nations of the world … where China becomes more economically powerful and the US is being forced to recognize that.”

According to the survey, conducted in June of last year, Americans don’t see the rise of China as highly threatening at this point, but some are concerned about economic ties and see a potential military threat in the future.

Douglas Paal, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a foreign policy think tank, explained earlier this month that there are “deep concerns” among Americans as China becomes stronger.

“Americans need some reassurance that China understands that the international system within which China is now prospering is one that is worth preserving,” he said. “China should not try to upset the apple cart because it feels that it is finally back on the world stage with a strong economy and an improving military position.”

As President Hu Jintao makes his historic four-day visit to the US, Americans that China Daily spoke to are seeing an opportunity to build better ties between the two countries.

“I think only good can come out of President Hu’s state visit,” said Dan Suffoletta, an employee at Levi Strauss & Co. “My belief is that when China and the US are having a dialogue and working to walk through things related to trade and get things rebalanced, it can be good for both countries.”

Marvin Fong, a Chinese American who works in the financial industry, said he expects the tension between China and the US to fade after Hu’s visit.

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