Australians trust China more, but still prefer the US

June 22, 2026

Australians trust China more than before.

In short:

Australians do not trust the US as much as they used to, with only 31% thinking the US acts responsibly.

Australians are still more wary of China, but the gap is getting smaller.

This report shows how Australians see the world.

The US is not as trusted by Australians as it used to be, with only 31% of people thinking the US acts responsibly.

This poll shows how Australians see the world and is watched by foreign diplomats.

Australians are starting to trust China more, with 28% of people trusting China.

Australians' trust in the US and China has changed over time.

The gap between trust in the US and China is now very small, with only 3% difference.

Only 21% of Australians trust the US president, which is the lowest ever.

Australians do not like the US president's policies.

Australians do not like the US using tariffs to force other countries to do what it wants.

Despite not trusting the US, most Australians still think the US alliance is important for security.

Australians think the US alliance is still important, but not as much as before.

Australia is losing influence in the region, with the US and China still dominant.

The US alliance is still strong, even with the current US president.

Australians are practical about the world and know a strong alliance is important.

Australians are practical and know the US alliance is important for security.

China is gaining from the US losing trust.

Australians now see China more as a business partner than a threat.

More Australians see China as a business partner, which is a change from before.

In the past, Australians saw China as a threat, but now they see it as a business partner.

Australians are worried about the economy and see China as important for trade.

Australians see China as important for trade, which is why they see it more positively.

It is hard to separate Australians' dislike of the US president from their views on China.

Other countries like Japan and New Zealand are still trusted by Australians.

The poll asked Australians which countries they trust to act responsibly.

Japan is the most trusted country, followed by Germany and the UK.

Australians are not as trusting of India and Indonesia.

New Zealand is the country that Australians feel most warmly towards.

Some world leaders are more trusted than others, with the Canadian prime minister being the most trusted.

June 22, 2026

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