Americans Affirm Ties to Allies in Asia

RESEARCH Public Opinion Survey by Dina Smeltz and Craig Kafura
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CDC Global
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Public opinion data shows Americans support US involvement in Asia and seem to think that US regional efforts positively affect stability.

Key Findings 

The Obama administration announced a major rebalance toward Asia in 2011 to strengthen US relations with Asian countries on several dimensions, from security to trade. The American public supports the idea of rebalancing toward Asia. They also endorse a broad range of current US involvement in Asia, including sustaining regional alliances, maintaining an overseas US military presence, and signing free trade agreements. While Americans continue to support friendly relations with China, they express some discomfort about the economic impact of China’s rise and place a higher priority on relations with traditional allies.​ 

About the Authors
Dina Smeltz
Senior Fellow, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
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Dina Smeltz, a polling expert, has more than 25 years of experience designing and fielding international social and political surveys. Prior to joining the Council to lead its annual survey of American attitudes on US foreign policy, she served in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US State Department's Office of Research from 1992 to 2008.
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Craig Kafura
Assistant Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy
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Craig Kafura is the assistant director for public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and a Pacific Forum Young Leader. At the Council, he coordinates work on public opinion and foreign policy and is a regular contributor to the public opinion and foreign policy blog Running Numbers.
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Issues Public Opinion
Regions China East Asia
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