China Remains Top Perceived Threat to the U.S.
Despite Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Americans continue to rank China as the greatest potential threat to the United States.
Despite Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Americans continue to rank China as the greatest potential threat to the United States.
WHY IT MATTERS – The United States is spending tens of billions of dollars and depleting key weapons supplies supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
This could leave us ill prepared to defend the U.S. or its allies against Chinese Communist Party aggression.
TOPLINE NUMBERS – According to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute’s fifth annual National Defense Survey:
43 percent see China as the greatest threat (-9 from November 2021)
31 percent see Russia as the greatest threat (+17 from November 2021)
7 percent see North Korea as the greatest threat
3 percent see Ourselves as the greatest threat
2 percent see Iran as the greatest threat
PARTISAN SPLIT – There was a significant difference in how Republicans and Democrats perceived the relative threat from Russia and China to the United States.
For Democrats:
42 percent see Russia as the greatest threat (+20 from November 2021)
32 percent see China as the greatest threat (-12 from November 2021)
For Republicans:
56 percent see China as the greatest threat (-8 from November 2021)
19 percent see Russia as the greatest threat (+12 from November 2021)
ZOOM OUT – The difference could be due to years of partisan focus on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
GO DEEPER – Full Results: Reagan National Defense Survey