The Age Gap in Perceptions About China

[Celerity]

Older Americans see a clear and present danger from China. Younger Americans do not. This divide could play an important role in the 2024 elections.

https://www.liberalpatriot.com/p/the-age-gap-in-perceptions-about



As discussed last week, American attitudes about China have hardened noticeably over the past few years, with the deepest concerns emerging from Republican and independent voters. Although partisanship clearly shapes views of China, age differences may be more of a determining factor overall.

Older Americans are far more worried about the threat of China than are younger people.

The most recent wave of polling from The Economist and YouGov asked respondents whether they consider China to be an ally or an enemy of the United States, offering 4 total categories. As seen in the table below, nearly three quarters of Americans overall view China as either unfriendly (32 percent) or as an enemy (40 percent), with less than one fifth of the population viewing China in a more positive light.



Looking at the crosstabs, nearly half of all Americans ages 45 to 64—and almost 6 in 10 Americans who are 65 years and older—label China as America’s enemy. The percentage of the oldest age group of Americans viewing China as an enemy is more than double that of the youngest age category: 58 percent versus 27 percent, respectively. Although more than 8 in 10 middle-age and older Americans view China as unfriendly to America or as America’s enemy, less than half of Americans ages 18 to 29 hold a similar negative view of China.

Older Americans are also far more likely than younger ones to see the interests of China and the United States as fundamentally at odds. For example, pluralities of those ages 18 to 29 (46 percent) and 30 to 44 (45 percent) believe that “China and the U.S. can both get what they want in the world” compared to nearly half of those ages 45 to 64, and more than 6 in 10 of those 65 and older, who believe “their interests conflict fundamentally”.



What does any of this mean for politics?................

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[David__77]

1. Cold War disease is somewhat age related.

…

[leftstreet]

4. +1

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. I have 30 year friendships with some people in China.

They aren't the problem,, the leadership Party is. Has been since forever. Think us having only a Republican Party to vote for. That's what the Chinese people are gifted with.

[canetoad]

3. There's a completely different discussion going on

Here in Oz. Newspapers that I thought were solidly centre-left are talking up threats of global war.

Geographically, we are a large, if isolated, part of SE Asia. China is out biggest trade partner. Cultural and historical ties were to UK and USA and WW 1 & 2 allies but that has changed dramatically in the past 50 years.

May be it's just as well that we're a big empty dry continent.

Did I say that you're a good kid?

[MichMan]

5. Interesting because younger people overwhelmingly see climate change as a big issue

China has built a substantial number of coal fired powerplants and has not signed on to any of the climate accords that most other developed nations have adopted. One would think that younger people would recognize the threat to the planet that China is creating.

[David__77]

6. China is making great contributions to decarbonization.

Far and away the leader in solar and electric vehicles to name a couple.

[MichMan]

7. China is building more than half of the world's new coal power plants

Article from April, 2022.
Construction of new coal-fired stations is occurring overwhelmingly in Asia, with China accounting for 52 per cent of the 176 gigawatts of coal capacity under construction in 20 countries last year. The global figure is barely changed from the 181 GW that was under construction in 2020, despite authoritative analyses showing that no more new coal projects can be built if climate goals are to be met.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2317274-china-is-building-more-than-half-of-the-worlds-new-coal-power-plants/?utm_source=rakuten&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3420415:Wildfire+Systems&utm_content=10&ranMID=47192&ranEAID=Gl6mUn9YQ68&ranSiteID=Gl6mUn9YQ68-z2Amxgq79zHZYeT88fSkRQ

[Meowmee]

9. Agree

They have tried to do something but it ended up with more emissions due to coal.

[David__77]

11. They've got a long way to catch up to US in per capita emissions.

I anticipate USA will stay number one in that category for quite some time.

[Meowmee]

12. According to what I read Qatar is number one maybe

In releasing emissions per capita at a population of 2 million.

[MiniMe]

8. I would guess that you would find the same difference about Russia

I'm 65 now, and growing up, Russia was always an enemy

[Celerity]

10. that is at the poll link in the article

https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/kqdsel6n6j/econTabReport.pdf