On August 4 the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released a short report of findings on American perceptions toward the rising power of China. Among the report's key findings are the following:
- 76% of Americans believe China's economy will grow as large as the US economy
- 42% of the above population believes this will be mostly negative, with 51% claiming it will be equally positive and negative
- Despite these concerns, 64% of the sampled population nevertheless thinks that the US should "undertake friendly cooperation and engagement" with China, while 33% feels the US should actively work to limit China's rise
So, in short the report arrives at two conclusions: (1) Americans fully grasp the reality of China's rise. Good. And, (2) they presently reject any drastic policy measures, holding to the opinion that friendly cooperation is the way forward. Yes, but under what conditions?