Public opinion in Australia of China ticks up

A new poll shows that more than half of Australians regard relations with China as more important than ties with the United States. Experts said the findings reflect a growing recognition among Australians that China is not only an important trading partner for Australia, but also a key partner in addressing shared challenges, with considerable potential for cooperation across a wide range of areas.

The annual poll released on Monday by the Sydney-based Lowy Institute revealed significant shifts in public perceptions of Australia's two most important bilateral relationships — those with the US and China.

According to the poll, 61 percent of Australians view China primarily as an economic partner rather than a "security threat", up 11 percentage points from 2025. Meanwhile, Australians' trust in the US to act responsibly in the world has fallen to 31 percent, the lowest level since the Lowy Institute began conducting its surveys.

The poll marked a notable shift in Australian public opinion. A majority of respondents said Australia's relationship with China is more important than its relationship with the US, while 45 percent ranked ties with the US as more important.

According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australians broadly oppose many of the US policies, including those regarding Greenland.

Despite declining confidence in the US, Australians have not turned away from the US alliance. The poll found that 73 percent of respondents still regard the alliance as either "very important" or "fairly important" to Australia's security.

Chen Hong, director of the East China Normal University's Australian Studies Center, said that the findings do not suggest a sudden change in Australian society's perception of China.

Instead, they point to a growing tendency among Australians to assess the country's external relations through the lens of national interests and economic realities.

"The current US administration's 'America First' policy has underscored the limits of alliance commitments … Australians are increasingly reluctant to sacrifice economic prosperity, employment opportunities and regional stability for the sake of geopolitical competition driven by the US."

He mentioned that China is currently Australia's second-largest source of inbound tourists, providing tangible benefits to sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and urban services.

In addition, China remains the largest source of international students in Australia, making a significant contribution to the country's education sector and broader economy.

Multilateralism underlined

Li Jianjun, director of the Australian Studies Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said that China and Australia are both major economies in the Asia-Pacific region and important stakeholders in safeguarding multilateralism, free trade and the postwar international order.

"China and Australia can strengthen coordination in advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, safeguarding the stability of regional industrial and supply chains, and tackling climate change. They can also work together to uphold world peace and foster a regional environment that supports peace, development and shared prosperity," he said.

"By strengthening cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China and Australia can jointly uphold free trade and boost an open global economy," said Liu Le, an associate researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Expanded cooperation in trade, green energy and people-to-people exchanges would not only benefit both countries, but also contribute to shared growth and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region, Liu said.