American Opinion on U.S.-China Policy & Cooperation
Problem
Policymakers lack data on the types of engagement with China the U.S. public would support.
U.S.-China relations shape global stability, American prosperity, and public health. But when it comes to gauging political support, policymakers have little evidence to distinguish concrete actions from symbolic gestures that can shift public sentiment.
PAX sapiens needed to understand what limits Americans’ support on cooperation with China, and which activities and outcomes they would accept.
Solution
NORC fielded a rapid turnaround, nationally representative survey of U.S. adults on policy preferences.
We administered a survey through our AmeriSpeak® panel, completing 1,000 interviews with a nationally representative sample of adults ages 18 and over. The survey was completed online and by phone over a three-day period. We also provided programming and questionnaire design consultation to ensure the survey would capture both structured policy preferences and open-ended responses for thematic analysis.
As an American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative charter member, we delivered fully labeled data files, a complete codebook, and statistical weights incorporating probabilities of selection and non-response adjustments.
Result
The survey identified which forms of cooperation would improve Americans’ view of China, and which would not.
The survey drew a clear line between concrete and symbolic action: 69 percent of Americans said Chinese cooperation on curbing fentanyl precursors would improve their view of China, 59 percent said the same of easing trade restrictions, and 50 percent of expanding educational exchanges, while 28 percent said the same of sending pandas to American zoos.
The open-ended responses measured something different: not whether Americans accept these forms of cooperation, but whether they raise them on their own. Few did, distinguishing support that appears when prompted from support that is already top of mind.
Pairing a probability-based sample with a three-day field period produced findings that were both nationally representative and current, better supporting decision-making on issues that can shift quickly.
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Project Leads
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Vadim Volos
Vice President -
Dan Malato
Senior Research Director
