Poll: Australians Grow Positive of China as Security Fears Ease
Australians show strong backing for cooperation with China on global challenges such as climate change and regional health, with support reaching 78 percent.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese speaks to the media outside 10 Downing Street after a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London, United Kingdom on May 05, 2023. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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ustralians are expressing more positive and pragmatic views toward China than at any point in the past five years, even as concerns over security, interference and regional tensions remain high, according to the latest UTS: ACRI/BIDA Poll released on November 18, 2025.
The annual survey, conducted by the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney in partnership with BIDA, shows a notable shift toward a more settled national mood after years of volatility in the bilateral relationship. The findings draw on responses from 2,045 Australian adults surveyed nationwide.
Seven in ten Australians (71 percent) now believe the country should continue strengthening ties with China — a 10-point jump on 2024 and the strongest support since the poll began in 2021. Recognition of the economic benefits of the relationship also surged, with 72 percent agreeing China brings economic advantages, up from 62 percent last year.
Concern about the bilateral relationship, which had dominated public sentiment through years of trade tensions and geopolitical friction, has fallen sharply. Just over half of respondents (54 percent) expressed concern — the lowest level in five years and a 20-point drop since 2021.
Public mistrust of the Chinese government remains widespread but has eased: 64 percent say they distrust Beijing, down from 76 percent in 2021.
The authors, Elena Collinson and Paul F. Burke, say the data points to a “more open yet still cautious” national outlook. “While fundamental concerns remain, Australians appear increasingly willing to balance risk with opportunity,” the report notes.
Government handling and political judgments
The Albanese government continues to enjoy modest but steady improvement in public approval for its management of China relations. Satisfaction has risen from 32 percent in 2021 to 41 percent in 2025.
Labor has also extended its lead over the Coalition as the party most trusted to manage China policy, with 48 percent backing Labor compared with 29 percent for the Coalition — continuing a pattern established after 2022.
China policy appears to be gaining influence in federal elections. Thirty-seven percent of Australians said it shaped their vote in 2025, up from 27 percent in 2022.
Two-thirds of respondents want Canberra to communicate disagreements with Beijing privately rather than publicly, indicating strong public support for a restrained diplomatic style.
Security concerns ease, but strategic risks persist
Perceptions of China as a security threat have softened slightly but remain high: 66 percent view China as a threat, down from the low 70s in previous years. Around half of Australians continue to believe a conflict with China is a “serious possibility” within three years, a view that has held steady since 2023.
Support for higher defense spending has reached a record 72 percent. Backing for AUKUS has also firmed modestly, with half of Australians believing nuclear-powered submarines will enhance security, and 68 percent supporting deeper tech cooperation under AUKUS Pillar II.
Only a quarter favor reducing AUKUS involvement to ease tensions with China.
Notably, Australians are more wary of U.S. pressure than Chinese pressure for the first time. Fifty-seven percent believe Washington will eventually force Canberra to choose sides — slightly more than those who expect similar pressure from Beijing.
Economic views show reduced anxiety
Perceptions of economic risk have moderated considerably. Concern that Australia is too reliant on China has dropped to 66 percent, its lowest level since 2021. Only 39 percent now see the economic relationship as “more of a risk than an opportunity,” a steady decline over five years.
Support for trade engagement is strong: 60 percent say the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement has been beneficial, and 70 percent believe Australian companies should pursue opportunities in China. Support for Chinese tourism and student flows remains high.
On investment, Australians remain cautious but less negative than in earlier years. Views on Chinese investment in residential real estate show persistent concern, but trends have softened amid wider housing market pressures.
Society, values and academic cooperation
A majority of Australians (60 percent) believe Australians of Chinese origin play an important role in strengthening ties, and 82 percent say their views of the Chinese government are separate from their views of Chinese people — the strongest consensus in the survey.
Concerns about academic freedom have eased, with 58 percent believing universities can collaborate with China safely if proper safeguards exist. Support for scientific and research cooperation is increasingly robust, rising to 72 percent.
Australians show strong backing for cooperation with China on global challenges such as climate change and regional health, with support reaching 78 percent.
Traditional media remain the most influential source of information shaping public views of China, followed by personal interactions and social media.
The 2025 results depict a public increasingly able to distinguish between economic cooperation and strategic caution, the authors say. “Australians remain alert to risks but are less alarmed, more nuanced, and more willing to support engagement across multiple fronts.”
(Source: UTS:ACRI/BIDA Poll 2025)
