Are China and the USA Enemies? A Survey Reveals All

Are China and the USA Enemies? A Survey Reveals All
Jan 16, 2014 By eChinacities.com

Editor’s note: Just as with a recent survey commissioned by the Global Times to ascertain what the world really thinks about China’s global image and influence, so too has another survey come to help formulate a world view regarding the potential confrontation of the USA and China formulating an antagonistic relationship.

Are China and the USA enemies? As this Chinese translated article suggests, the answer should put both sides at ease.

The Carnegie International Peace Center of the USA co-operated with a team working under General Luo Yuan, of the China Strategic Culture Promotion Association, published a report called “Safety Report on China and the USA – What the Other Side Thinks of Me”. This report was published on December 12.

As one of the writers contributing to the report, Luo Yuan had told the Global Times that although a segment of Chinese public opinion had been given attention by Western media, this report states that many citizens ranging from exceptional to ordinary do not regard the USA and China as enemies. As well, the US report states that their side does not view China to be their main threat to security.


Source: Asitimes

According to a report filed by the Washington Post on December 11, the Chinese investigation was focused on what are statistically classified as the elite of society (including government officials, military academics, entrepreneurs, members of the media, civilian academics) as well as the average person; the composition of the US survey made similar distinctions between respondents.

This report puts forth the notion that even though the level of mistrust between the two countries is very high, most Chinese view the United States as a competitor and not as an enemy. This survey had some particularly interesting questions that asked who should lead the world, a question regarding the sudden rise of China on the international stage and a question regarding the possibility of the US being confronted with its decline.

What is expected of and what do we worry about for each country?

The article written by the Washington Post states that many of the elite citizenry on both sides think that their own country should adopt the role of world leader; this opinion is held by only 45% of ordinary Chinese citizens, while 74% of US citizens follow this sentiment. What was surprising to discover is that 21% of Chinese government officials and 12% of military academics state that they don’t think China actively pursues the role of international leader. Simply speaking, the vast majority of Chinese military elite approve of both countries sharing an equilibrium of power between them; the other four sectors of Chinese elite share this opinion.

This reporter for the Global Times received the Chinese edition of the report “Safety Report on China and the US – What the Other Side Thinks of Me” on December 11. One of the writers of the report, Luo Yuan, said that the original goal of this report was to focus upon the founding of a new relationship between the two countries as superpowers. From the public’s perspective, this objectively reflects how China and the US view the other from a qualitative and quantitative analysis that lists the commonly shared interests, as well as differences, between the two. The results of this investigation can provide consultation on strategic decisions on the future relationship between the two countries.

The survey shows that in comparison to China’s military might, 59% of US respondents are more worried about China’s economic might; and only 28% of respondents were reported to be concerned about China’s military power. In contrast to this are the number of Chinese respondents in the survey that say they are worried about US military and economic might which shape up to be 34% and 20%, respectively.

Levels of trust and looking to the future

Additionally, the data from this report shows that the level of trust between the USA and China has a long way to go. The case provided by the study states that by strengthening official and non-official communication, participating in more beneficial dialog regarding relevant strategies and benefits and scrupulously abiding by promises made on both sides will all prove to evenly improve mutual trust between the two. The two sides also felt the need to explain the intentions of their policies; for example, the US’s “re-balance” strategy and China’s military development.

Regarding the relationship between China and the US at the present time according to the survey, this relationship can be simply described to be one of being “neither friend nor foe”; being “together in the same boat”, the two sides must work together to realize common interests rather than to accentuate irreconcilable differences. Luo said that the confrontation caused by the rise of a strong China as a challenge and a threat from the perspective of the US people is the same as the issue of a climate change: it should be put on the back-burner. The more pressing problems of the economic crisis, North Korea and Iran, far outweigh that of China.

From the data analysis accumulated in this report, the elite and average citizens of China and the US all emphasize co-operation over competition. Relations can be strengthened using the support of the elite citizens of both countries; maintaining communications between high-level leaders will add to the foundation of co-operation between the two countries. The outcome of dealing with a potential crisis that affects bilateral relations is co-dependent upon the stability of the foundation of the mutual trust between the two countries.

Source: Global Times

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Keywords: Are China and the USA enemies relationship between China and the USA; China’s military might; China’s economic might; USA and China’s relationship

10 Comments

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coineineagh

In other "news": What if Spiderman fought Superman - who would win? --Well, maybe that isn't a useful question to ask. They're both superheroes who fight criminals. They're both in different fictional worlds, and in their stories they are both destined to be victorious. Back to the question at hand: "What if China fought the USA?" --Well, this is the same type of question asked by people with a child's mindset. Big powerful armies of large nations can only be used for invasion, war, conquest and genocide, right? Nuclear weapons are bombs - they have no other purpose than to be exploded, yes? That's functional rigidity at its finest. Don't ask the question "friends or enemies?", because that just betrays that you're stupid. The international community isn't like the playground: None of the kids will want to play with you if you're stupid.

Jan 18, 2014 17:38 Report Abuse

bill8899

Good to know they're not enemies.

Jan 16, 2014 19:00 Report Abuse

bill8899

T'was sarcasm!

Jan 25, 2014 13:20 Report Abuse

beijinger333

Genuine question: If China was the "world leader", how do you think China would go about this? I mean, we all know what America stands for (freedom, equality, innovation, Apple, Hollywood, Levis, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, music, etc), but what does China stand for? And how would their principles and ideologies manifest themselves in terms of global influence?

Jan 16, 2014 10:59 Report Abuse

The-Final-Say

If China were the defacto world leader, I believe that the world would adapt an inward thinking and a "we mind our own business,you mind your own business" attitude. People wouldn't help each other, unless the help has some mutual gain for the helper. Nobody would point a finger outwardly at other's faults because the one doing the pointing would rightly lose temper at a little mud thrown back on the face. If you help one first, and a natural disaster happens in your country, they would offer help because you are considered an ally. If you "bully" someone for what you perceive to be fair gain, regarding disputes of any type, whether it be political or economical, (lead in paint of toys for example), you will barely get noticed and left to suffer. I can't say whether China being the number 1 power would be good for the world or not, as once someone reaches the top, responsibilities and perception changes from within and also from others point of views. But I wonder if the world could improve with China being number 1, this is the question I would love to see answered.

Jan 16, 2014 11:25 Report Abuse

Guest345928

America is the cancer of society. Freedom? Blowing up your own twin towers and making up bullshit stories about arab terrorists to steal their oil is hardly freedom. Hollywood? A disgusting, satanic organisation made up of homosexuals and peadophiles. The music industry? A wicked industry promoting drug use, sex, violence and filth amoungst the world's youth and mind controlled morons. Just read some of the horrod lyrics by idiots such as eminem, miley Cyrus etc. Absoltely disgusting. Innovation? Yes, let's all get micro chips planted in our brains and become transhuman robots. I hope China never becomes like America. America is the modern day devil, but most people are too deaf, dumb, blind and stupid to even realise it. But good luck to you Beijinger333, you are a sheep, a mind enslaved idiot.

Jan 16, 2014 22:35 Report Abuse

kaitangsou

Freedom and equality in USA?? Under Jeb Bush or Hilary?? uh...where is the blind logic...

Mar 13, 2015 02:48 Report Abuse