Most say that the U.S. is and should be the world leader is the world's leading military power % who say China U.S. 6% 83% Note: Don it know responses not shown. For Q15, "Russia a and volunteer responses "Other" and "None - not shown. For Q16,
When it comes to which country is the world’s leading military power, more than eight-in-ten Americans agree that it’s the U.S., up 11 percentage points since the question was last asked in 2016. Only 6% name China, a 6-point decrease. Similarly, few name Russia (8%), a view largely unchanged since four years ago.
Regardless of whether they think the U.S. is the leading economic or military power today, nearly all Americans also think that a future with U.S. leadership is a better thing than one with Chinese leadership. When forced to choose between which would be better for the world, 91% of Americans say it is better for the U.S. to be the world’s leading power than China (4%), largely unchanged since 2018 when the question was last asked. While there is widespread agreement across all groups in society, Republicans and those who see China’s power and influence as a major threat are more likely than Democrats and those who feel less threatened to value U.S. global leadership.
Most say that the U.S. is and should be  | the world leader  | is the world's leading military power  | % who say  | China  | U.S.  | 6%  | 83%  | % who say it is better for the world if  | is the world's  | leading power  | China  | U.S  | 4  | 91  | Note: Don it know responses not shown. For Q15, "Russia a and  | volunteer responses "Other" and "None - not shown. For Q16,  | volunteer responses "Both and "Neither" not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted March 3-29, 2020. Q15 &  | Q16.  | "U.S. Views of China Increasingly Negative Amid Coronavirus  | Outbreak"  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 