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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%.
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The Spinoff broke the news in New Zealand on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.
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