The United States needs to step up its efforts to counter military threats from China’s communist regime, about two-thirds of Americans who responded to a recent poll indicated.
Some 66 percent of respondents—including 58 percent of Democrats and 81 percent of Republicans—agreed with the statement that the United States “needs to do more to prepare for military threats from China,” in a
Reuters/Ipsos poll that was released on Aug. 16.
The poll was conducted on Aug. 14 and 15 among 1,005 adults, including 443 Democrats and 346 Republicans. The survey had a credibility interval of about 4 percentage points.
In addition, about 66 percent of respondents also said they would be more likely to support a candidate in the 2024 presidential election who “supports additional tariffs on Chinese imports.”
Concerns about China were multifaceted. Some 65 percent of respondents believe the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will try to influence the U.S. election.
Some 75 percent of respondents expressed an overall negative view toward China, and 84 percent hold a negative opinion of CCP leader Xi Jinping.
Americans Not Sold on Defending Taiwan
While about two-thirds of respondents support more tariffs and military preparations to counter the Chinese regime, fewer respondents were on board with the idea of sending U.S. troops to defend Taiwan from a hypothetical attack by the regime. About 38 percent of respondents said they would favor deploying U.S. troops in Taiwan, 42 percent opposed the idea, and 20 percent were undecided.While Taiwan is self-governing, the CCP contends that the island is China’s territory and has indicated plans to assert control over the democratic island. The United States has maintained a position of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan since the 1970s, avoiding formal diplomatic ties while
continuing to send military aid.Last month, Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) accused the Biden administration of
slow-walking new arms sales to Taiwan. The White House denied the claim, insisting that it has taken “an unprecedented number of steps against the Chinese in a broad range of areas that has continued from the beginning of this administration.”
Republicans, Democrats Trade Blame on China
Concerns about China have fueled moments of agreement between Democrats and Republicans, along with debate about which side has the right approach.
Near the start of his administration, President Biden said he wasn’t
looking for confrontation with China but predicted “steep competition.” He also said he would seek out chances for cooperation with China on issues such as addressing climate change and COVID-19.
“We cannot and must not return to the reflexive opposition and rigid blocs of the Cold War. Competition must not lock out cooperation on issues that affect us all,” he said in a
February 2021 address.
After a Chinese high-altitude balloon transited the United States earlier this year, President Biden said the incident brought into question “where we should work together and where we have opposition.” Republicans widely criticized the Democrat president’s response to the incident, arguing that he shouldn’t have waited as long as he did to down the balloon.
After Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in January, they pushed for new efforts to investigate China, including the new Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. The House
formed the new committee with the support of all Republicans and 146 Democrats, while 65 Democrats opposed forming the new panel.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) was among the 65 Democrats who voted against forming the new committee. In January, she
told CNN she voted no because “it’s really clear that this is just a committee that would further embolden anti-Asian rhetoric and hate and put lives at risk.”
Last month, the new select committee on China
held a hearing to evaluate the Biden administration’s handling of China-related policy. During that hearing, Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) said he would commend “good policy” on China by the administration.
“The problem is that, right now, good policies that would earn bipartisan support are stuck in the interagency process.”
