More US people see China as superpower: poll

The number of Americans who see China as a world superpower is more than those say the same for the US, a survey showed Wednesday.

About 85 percent of Americans consider China to be a global superpower, compared with 78 percent who believe the US is a world superpower, according to the survey conducted by The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

Younger Americans are more likely than older Americans to say China is a superpower, the poll revealed, adding that two-thirds of Americans think their country is viewed negatively elsewhere in the world, and almost half believe the global power and influence of the US is decreasing.

"The idea that the US needs an economic recovery is not earth-shattering," said Lee Miringoff, director of the institute. "But these numbers indicate that Americans also believe the US is in need of an image overhaul in the world community."

The telephone poll of 956 people was conducted on March 25, 26 and 29.

The majority of Americans "see China as a potential threat, and a growing number see it as more powerful economically, but at the same time ... the majority view is China is a problem but not an adversary," pollster Michael Dimock told Reuters on Wednesday.

"It's not like China is seen in an inherently negative light by the US public," said Dimock, who works with the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

China is viewed favorably by 50 percent of Americans, against 38 percent who view it unfavorably, he added.

For Americans who are under pressure from the worst downturn in over six decades, some are looking with a bit of resentment at China.

"We've lost so many jobs along the way because people buy cheaper stuff from China. I'd rather pay a little more to buy something made in the US. It's good for jobs," Bob Teno, 48, who recently got another job after being laid off, told Reuters.

However, more people taking part in the poll tended to look inside the US for prob-lems.

"I don't think we need protectionism, but we have to draw the line somewhere," said Carlo Vennettilli, 57, who has worked in the declining Detroit auto industry for 22 years. "Nobody in government is watching out for us anymore."

Asked whether China was to blame for America's economic struggles, Milwaukee student Aron Moberg, 33, faulted US businesses and government and suggested that Americans get over it.

Reuters