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New Zealand poll shows US seen as more of a threat than China
The annual survey found 35% of respondents saw the US as a threat, while 23% said the same of China and trust in Washington fell.
According to the Asia NZ Foundation's Perceptions of Asia report published today, 35% of New Zealanders consider the United States a threat, ranking it ahead of both China and Pakistan.
David Capie, professor of International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, said perceptions cooled during Donald Trump's first term but "emphatically more pronounced" worsened in his second, marked by a "spray of tariffs" and unpredictable policies.
Back in 2022, just 10% identified the US as a threat; the figure has more than tripled to 35% in 14 months, while friendship sentiment dropped from 61% to 39%.
China's threat rating fell to 23%, with 46% expecting positive impact, as many view Beijing's behavior as more predictable than Washington's despite growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
New Zealand is not alone; an Australian survey by the Lowy Institute found attitudes toward the US hardened after Trump's return to the White House, with trust in American responsibility declining to 64%.