Question China: economic partner or security threat

In your own view, is China more of an economic partner or more of a security* threat to Australia?

  1. 0%
  2. 20%
  3. 40%
  4. 60%
  5. 80%
  6. 100%
777982553433444450 151312416363525347 313222
  1. 2015
  2. 2017
  3. 2019
  4. 2021
  5. 2023
  6. 2025

In 2015, 2017 and 2018, the question asked if China was ‘more of a military threat’.
Indicates change in mode: see 2025 Methodology.

  • More of an economic partner to Australia
  • More of a security threat to Australia
  • Both equally
Total
All groups

Observation

In 2025, Australians are almost evenly split on whether China is more an economic partner (50%) or a security threat (47%). This represents a rise of six points among those who see China as more of an economic partner, and a fall of six points among those who see it as more of a security threat.

Public sentiment on this question appears to roughly shadow the course of official Australia–China relations: after 2020, majority economic optimism gave way to more pronounced threat perceptions as diplomatic relations soured. Then, from 2023 onwards, as the official relationship thawed, threat perceptions mellowed slightly and public attitudes on this question became more evenly divided.

Data

Compare different demographics, years, categories, and responses.

Demographic

Year

Response

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