Living with the Dragon (eBook): How the American Public Views the Rise of China

Synopsis

It is widely believed that most Americans distrust and indeed despise China. Considering the country's violent political history, its unprecedented economic rise, and its growing military capability, China has become America's strongest market competitor and arguably the most challenging global threat to the United States. Nevertheless, a full consideration of Americans' opinions proves the opposite to be true. Carefully analyzing all available polls and surveys, Benjamin I. Page and Tao Xie find that 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 by 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 outcomes in relation to facts about China and in light of current U.S. debates on diplomacy and policy.