Overwhelming Majority of Americans Fear Chinese Influence over U.S Politicians, Poll Finds

National Review, August 6, 2024

An overwhelming majority of Americans consider China to be a threat to U.S. national security and fear Beijing’s ability to influence American politicians, according to new polling data shared exclusively with National Review.

A poll taken by the Tyson Group in late July found that Americans believe China is the top threat to national security, and beyond that, U.S. infrastructure, food security, higher education, and the political system.

A plurality, 41 percent, of respondents said China is the country that presents the biggest threat to U.S. national security, compared to the 27 percent for Russia and 6 percent for Iran. Overall, 78 percent of the respondents said China is a threat, including 86 percent of Republicans.

Over two-thirds, 68 percent, believe China’s ability to lobby politicians and buy influence poses a moderate or very serious threat to the U.S., compared to the 7 percent who do not. The same number, 68 percent, support efforts to curtail Chinese influence on state and local politics.

A similar total, 64 percent of those surveyed, said China is a threat to food security, and 52 percent said they would be more likely to oppose a political candidate in favor of outsourcing American food supply to China.

Large numbers of Americans support preventing China from influencing institutions of higher education, prohibiting state government operations from using Chinese products, combating China’s theft of American intellectual property, and banning Chinese companies involved with importing drugs.

“Our survey found that China is top of mind for voters of both parties heading into the November election. The threat of China looms over Americans not only when it comes to our national security and border, but Americans are also worried about China’s threat to our food supply, infrastructure, economy, and culture,” the Tyson Group said in a memo.

U.S. officials have warned repeatedly about China’s apparent efforts to influence the outcome of the 2024 election and sow discord among the American people.

Two years ago, U.S. officials said in an intelligence advisory that China sought to influence races to fight candidates with strong anti-China positions, the Associated Press reported.

Over the past few years, China has also attempted to influence U.S. political outcomes through expensive lobbying campaigns, Chinese language media, and deceptive advertisement campaigns in mainstream outlets.

Beyond that, China has tried cultivating state and local leaders, with the most notable case being alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang’s infiltration of California Democratic politics. Her ability to build relationships with Representative Eric Swalwell’s (D., Calif.) office and multiple midwestern mayors demonstrated the effectiveness of her influence campaign.

Concerns about China’s influence on major aspects of American life are shared by lawmakers across the political spectrum, as shown by the widespread congressional support for legislation to ban TikTok if Chinese parent company ByteDance does not divest from the app in the coming months.

In the same poll, Vice President Kamala Harris leads former president Donald Trump 42 percent to 40 percent in the presidential race, with 7 percent supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and 8 percent undecided. Harris’s lead in the poll continues her polling surge over Trump due to newfound Democratic euphoria over her candidacy and Trump’s built-in unpopularity with large segments of the voting public.

The survey was conducted with 2,000 likely voters nationwide, and it has a 2 percent margin of error. Republicans and Democrats each make up 35 percent of the sample, and independents round out the remaining 30 percent.