In the context of increasing uncertainties in the international situation, New Zealanders’ views of Asia and traditional security partners are changing.
According to Reuters, a survey report titled "Perceptions of Asia and Asian People" released by the Asia New Zealand Foundation on the 10th shows that for the first time in ten years, New Zealanders regard the United States as a greater threat than China.
This poll was conducted from January to February this year, covering 2,300 New Zealanders aged 15 and above. This type of survey has been carried out continuously for 29 years.
The survey results show that 39% of respondents view the United States as a “friend” of New Zealand, and 35% explicitly consider the United States as a threat. In contrast, 43% of respondents see China as a friend, while only 23% consider China to be a threat.
In the past year, New Zealanders’ positive perception of the United States has plummeted significantly, while negative perceptions have continued to rise. However, their positive perception of China has improved. Surveys show that 81% of respondents believe that maintaining relations with Asia is crucial.
Asia-NZ Foundation's CEO Suzannah Jessep stated in her report that more and more New Zealanders are realizing that Asia is crucial for New Zealand's future.
New Zealand’s capital Wellington celebrates the Chinese New Year. Xinhua News Agency
According to reports, in recent years, New Zealand has continued to deepen its defense, security, and technology cooperation with the United States. Wellington believes that Washington’s role in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region is crucial, and it serves as a force to counter China’s growing influence.
However, New Zealand exporters are suffering from the impact of US tariffs, and the domestic economy is also under pressure due to the high oil prices caused by the US-Iran war.
Victoria University of Wellington's Professor of International Relations, David Capie, said that New Zealanders still primarily understand their own security from an economic perspective. Therefore, tariffs and disruptions in global trade will greatly affect their judgment.
He added that worsening US emotions was a widespread trend among Western countries based on free and democratic systems of governance.
A survey conducted by the American website “Politico News Network” in six EU countries—Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and Belgium—showed that 36% of respondents considered the United States to be a greater threat than China’s (29%). Except for France and Poland, the other four countries also believed that threats from the United States were more significant than those from China.
A survey released by the University of Sydney in December last year showed that most respondents from Australia, Japan, and India believe that President Trump's second term would be detrimental to their countries.
