Americans View China as an Economic Competitor – Not a Strategic Adversary

AUGUST 2025

This document summarizes key findings from six online focus groups conducted by GBAO for National Security Action in August 2025. Participants included Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – all of whom follow U.S. foreign policy at least occasionally. All participants reside in Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, or Texas.

KEY FINDING:

Voters of all stripes expressed a fairly consistent view: China is not a geopolitical adversary, but rather an economic competitor. Discussions about China are largely framed in economic terms, with many acknowledging the country’s central role in producing goods consumed in the U.S. 

As a Democratic voter from Minnesota put it, “we wouldn't have any stuff in Walmart if it weren't for China.” While some expressed concerns about unfair trade practices and intellectual property theft, the dominant sentiment across political lines is that China and the U.S. are economically intertwined.

Rather than fearing China as a military threat or a rising superpower, voters are more focused on the risks of economic tension, such as trade wars that could hurt the U.S. economy. Key concerns center on trade, technology, and the importance of both countries adhering to fair rules. Overall, Americans see China more as a powerful economic rival than a hostile adversary.

MORE FROM VOTERS:

  • “We need one another. That's one thing. So, I mean, if China were to just completely crash, it's going to hurt us as well. And the same thing, if our economy just totally crashed, it would hurt China. So we're interdependent.” (North Carolina Democrat)

  • “I think we're economically interdependent on each other. So I don't think there's even a slight chance of anything ever happening between us.” (Ohio Republican)

  • “I don't think China is the enemy so much as I think we as America should have smacked the hand of our own companies that invested so much in China and didn't invest in America… They moved all of their manufacturing over to China and blamed the fact that there was no one in America that did it. But the truth is, that they trained everybody in China to do it because they can do it cheaper. So China is just a competitor – they're just just exploiting what they can.” (North Carolina Independent)

TAKEAWAYS:

  • While policymakers often emphasize strategic rivalry and the potential for military conflict with China, most voters do not share the same level of concern. Instead, they are more wary of rising tensions, and are not focused on trying to slow China’s rise.

  • Messaging should better reflect voters’ priorities by shifting away from geopolitical threats and focusing instead on economic competition, technology and cybersecurity challenges, and the importance of fair play in the U.S.-China relationship.