Chinese public opinion is often overlooked in discussions of U.S.-China competition, yet it shapes how Beijing defines threats, prioritizes interests, and calibrates its foreign policy. As tensions span trade, technology, Taiwan, and regional security, understanding how Chinese citizens view these issues offers critical insight into both domestic constraints and external behavior.
In this interview recorded on March 31, 2026, Nick Zeller, Renard Sexton, and Yawei Liu discuss findings from China Pulse, a joint survey project by The Carter Center and Emory University. They examine Chinese attitudes toward the United States as a security threat, expectations around the trade conflict, views on Taiwan, and perspectives on China’s role in key regional relationships, and what these trends reveal about the trajectory of U.S.-China relations.