<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>328480</docID> <postdate>2024-09-06 08:43:49</postdate> <headline>Australians shun Trump, see China as a challenge</headline> <body><p><img class="wp-image-265457 size-full" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Entrance_to_the_Chinese_Embassy_in_Canberra_June_2014-e1725576128410.jpeg" alt="" width="1280" height="853" /></p> <caption>The Chinese Embassy in Canberra... Australian, Japanese and American views collectively see China as a challenge.</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Dominic Giannini</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>While Australians by in large don't care for Donald Trump, their fear of China is trumping negative views of the US alliance.</strong></p> <p>Half of Australians think a second Trump presidency would be bad for their nation, but only a quarter would want to withdraw from the US alliance if he's elected, according to a United States Studies Centre report.</p> <p>This is compared to 37 per cent supporting a withdrawal in the same circumstance the year before.</p> <p>"Perceptions of Trump haven't changed but perceptions of the US alliance have," report author Jared Mondschein told AAP.</p> <p>An increase in support for the alliance under Mr Trump (50 per cent of Australians) came despite the majority of respondents in all three nations expressing concern about the outbreak of a conflict and political division under his presidency.</p> <p>Australian, Japanese and American views about the threat China poses are more closely aligned than in previous years, the data shows.</p> <p>"They collectively see China as a challenge," he said.</p> <p>The centre's CEO Mike Green says the increase in support in the alliance parallels what is happening in Japan, South Korea and the Philippines - other US treaty allies.</p> <p>"This is a common theme amongst US allies and the obvious explanation is the China factor," he told AAP.</p> <p>Challenges to national security worldwide including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korean belligerence and conflict in the Middle East reinforced the need for powerful allies, Mr Green said.</p> <p>"Even with Trump in charge, there isn't a lot of options," he said.</p> <p>Toned down rhetoric from the former president towards Australia compared to 2016 has also affected the view that the US alliance can survive successive presidents, Mr Green said.</p> <p>On Australia's plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, half of Australians supported it while one in five disagreed.</p> <p>But half also thought the AUKUS alliance under which Australia would get the submarines from America locked it into supporting Washington in a war.</p> </body>