Australia Shifts Views: China Seen as Future Global Leader, US Trust Plummets

A new report reveals a significant shift in Australian public opinion, with a majority now anticipating China will eclipse the United States as the world’s most powerful nation by 2035. This evolving perception comes alongside a dramatic decline in trust in the US to act responsibly on the global stage, reaching its lowest point since polling began two decades ago.
The independent research indicates that only 36% of Australians currently trust the US, a stark 20-point drop from the previous year. Confidence in the US President’s approach to international affairs is particularly low, contrasting sharply with sentiment towards his predecessor. Interestingly, trust in the Chinese leader has seen a slight uptick, and Australians are now equally divided on who presents a more reliable partnership.
For the first time in five years, Australians are as likely to view China as an economic partner as they are a security threat, though underlying distrust persists, with many still believing China poses a future military threat. Despite the erosion of trust in the US, a majority of Australians continue to believe the US would come to Australia’s defense in an attack, albeit with a reduced level of certainty compared to recent years.
This apparent disconnect, where support for the military alliance remains strong despite plummeting trust in the US leadership, suggests Australians are distinguishing between the instability of recent US foreign policy and the enduring value of the alliance institution itself. The gap in trust between the US and China has more than halved, reflecting a continued, albeit slow, improvement in perceptions of China since 2022.