February 11, 2009 9:27 PM

CBS News Poll: Bush And China

President George W. Bush's management of the diplomatic clash between the U.S. and China over a U.S. reconnaissance plane that collided with a Chinese fighter plane has received mixed reactions from the public. Although Americans generally approve of the way he is handling relations with China, doubts about his ability to handle an international crisis, disapproval of his handling of foreign policy and disapproval of his overall job performance have risen in the last month.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE U.S. SPY PLANE IN CHINA

Many, though not most Americans, disagree with the administration's response to the collision. 41% of Americans even are willing for the U.S. to meet China's demands for the release of the American crewmen and issue an official apology to China for the collision that resulted in the apparent death of the Chinese fighter plane pilot. Just under half (49%), however, don't think there should be an apology.


Should the U.S. Apologize to China?

	Yes	No
Apologize?	41%	49%

Democrats favor an apology by 50% o 42%, while Republicans overwhelmingly oppose one, by 60% to 31%. There is a small difference in the reactions of men and women to this question: men oppose an apology 52% to 41%, while women oppose one by a much smaller margin, 46% to 42%.

Some of those who are willing to have the U.S. apologize actually don't think the U.S. plane did anything wrong. And overall, most Americans, 58%, say the U.S. was completely in the right. Just 26% think the U.S. might have done something wrong. Those paying close attention to news about this are the most likely to say the U.S. was completely in the right.


Might the U.S. plane have done something wrong?

	Yes	No
U.S. Mistake?	26%	58%

POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE BUSH PRESIDENCY

One of the concerns voters expressed about a Bush presidency during the campaign had to do with his skills in handling foreign policy and international crisis. For some people, this crisis may have revived those worries. Just 48% now say they are confident in Bush's ability to handle an international crisis, hile 46% are uneasy about him. Last month, a majority was confident in his crisis management ability.


Confident in Bush's ability to handle Int'l crisis?

	Now	Last Month
Yes	48%	52%

	Now	Last Month
No	46%	40%

Overall disapproval has risen as the Bush presidency heads into its third month, fueled by a problematic economy as well as concerns over this foreign crisis. Nearly twice as many now say they disapprove of how Bush is handling foreign policy as did last month, and more than a third currently disapprove of how he is handling his job overall.


Evaluate the Bush Presidency Overall

	Now	Last Month
Approve	53%	60%

	Now	Last Month
Disapprove	35%	22%


Evaluate the Bush Presidency Foreign Policy

	Now	Last Month
Approve	48%	52%

	Now	Last Month
Disapprove	34%	18%

Even the President's personal ratings have been affected, as unfavorable ratings have gone back to the level they were at just before the Inauguration.


Overall Opinion of Bush

	Now	Last Month	January
Favorable	40%	42%	44%

	Now	Last Month	January
Unfavorable	29%	19%	30%

On the specific question of handling relations with China, Bush's first rating matches his overall foreign policy rating - just under half approve, but more than a quarter do not.

CHINA'S IMAGE

Americans don't necessarily view China favorably, but most are not willing to label China as an enemy either. Only 13% are favorable, while just about half say their feelings about China are generally neutral. A third are unfavorable.

What's most surprising is that the latest incident hasn't changed overall views about China very much. The opinions expressed in this poll match those expressed in a Gallup Poll conducted last year. Only 11% view China as an enemy. And while a third describe China as unfriendly, nearly half say China is friendly or is even an ally of the U.S. However, the percentage that describe China as an ally has been cut in half * from 10% last year to just 5% now.

This poll was conducted among a nationwide sample of 660 adults, interviewed by telephone April 4-5, 2001. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus four percentage points for results based on the entire sample.