Key facts
- A survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation found 35% of New Zealanders view the US as a threat, compared to 23% for China.
- The number of respondents seeing the US as a friend fell significantly in the past year, while views of China improved.
- 81% of New Zealanders believe developing ties with Asia is important.
- New Zealand exporters have been affected by US tariffs, and higher oil prices linked to Middle East conflict are pressuring the economy.
For the first time in a decade, New Zealanders perceive the United States as a greater threat than China, according to a survey by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. The annual Perceptions of Asia and Asian Peoples survey, now in its 29th year, polled 2,300 people in January and February.
The survey found that 35% of respondents viewed the United States as a threat, while 23% saw China as a threat. Conversely, 39% considered the US a friend, compared to 43% who viewed China as a friend. The number of people perceiving the US as a friend decreased significantly over the past year, while the view of China improved.
New Zealanders also continue to see developing ties with Asia as important, with 81% of respondents highlighting this. Suzannah Jessep, Chief Executive of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, stated that there is a growing recognition that prosperity, resilience, and security depend on strong relationships across Asia.
Despite deepening defense, security, and technology cooperation between New Zealand and the US, with Wellington viewing Washington as crucial for Indo-Pacific stability and as a counterweight to China's influence, public sentiment has shifted. This change is partly attributed to economic factors, as New Zealand exporters have been impacted by US tariffs, and the economy faces pressure from higher oil prices linked to the US-Israeli conflict in Iran. David Capie, a professor of international relations at Victoria University of Wellington, noted that New Zealanders largely view security through an economic lens, making trade disruptions and tariffs significant concerns.
Capie also observed that the negative sentiment towards the US follows a broader pattern seen in other Western liberal democracies. A separate poll in December from the University of Sydney indicated that a majority of Australians, Japanese, and Indians believe a second term for US President Donald Trump would be detrimental to their countries.