WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — A new nationwide survey has found that more New Zealanders now view the United States as a threat than China, reflecting a significant shift in public attitudes toward Washington since President Donald Trump returned to office.
According to the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s annual Perceptions of Asia report, 35% of respondents identified the United States as a threat to New Zealand, compared with 23% who said the same about China. The survey marks a sharp change from 2022, when only 10% of respondents viewed the U.S. as a threat.
The report also found that perceptions of the United States as a friendly nation declined substantially. In 2024, 61% of respondents considered the U.S. a friend of New Zealand, but that figure has fallen to 39%.
David Capie, a professor of international relations at Victoria University of Wellington, told Reuters that attitudes toward the United States began cooling during Trump’s first administration but have worsened more noticeably during his second term. Capie cited tariffs, shifts in foreign policy, and uncertainty surrounding U.S. international engagement as factors influencing public opinion.
Meanwhile, perceptions of China improved slightly despite ongoing concerns about Beijing’s growing military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The survey found that 46% of respondents believe China will have a positive impact on New Zealand’s future, while some participants described China’s actions as more predictable than those of the United States.
The findings mirror similar trends in Australia. A recent survey by the Lowy Institute found declining confidence in U.S. leadership and a growing belief that Washington may be less reliable as a global partner than in previous years.
Sources:
* Reuters – MBFC Rating
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