New Zealand Public Opinion: Threat from the United States Greater
According to Reuters (Japanese edition), on the 10th: A public opinion survey conducted by the New Zealand Asia Society Foundation reveals that New Zealanders perceive the United States as a greater threat to New Zealand than China. The perception that the U.S. poses a greater threat than China has persisted for a decade in New Zealand's eyes. Trade sanctions from the United States and global instability are increasingly affecting public sentiment in New Zealand.
The annual "New Zealanders' Views on Asia and Asian Communities" survey, now in its 29th year, surveyed 2,300 participants in January and February this year.
39% of respondents viewed the United States as a friend, while 35% perceived it as a threat.
43% considered China a friend, while 23% viewed it as a threat.
Over the past year, the number of people viewing the U.S. as a friend has significantly declined, while perceptions of China have begun to improve.
The survey also found that 81% of New Zealanders believe developing relationships with Asia is important.
Susanna Jessop, CEO of the foundation, stated in a report: “People are increasingly recognizing that prosperity, resilience, and security depend on the depth and quality of our relationships with Asia.”
In recent years, New Zealand has deepened cooperation with the United States in defense, security, and technology fields. The New Zealand government believes that “the U.S. is a central pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region” and aims to counterbalance China’s growing influence through engagement with the United States.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1867608121086988/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.