Most Say China Should Pay Some of World’s COVID Costs

U.S. voters think China is chiefly to blame for the coronavirus, and most now believe the Chinese should pay at least some of the global costs of the pandemic.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 50% of Likely U.S. Voters feel China is primarily to blame for the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. Thirty-six percent (36%) disagree, while 14% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Republicans (72%) are far more likely than Democrats (37%) and voters not affiliated with either major political party (44%) to blame China.

But 53% of all voters now think China should help pay at least some of the financial costs that have resulted from the global transmission of the coronavirus which originated in a Chinese city. That’s up from 42% when Rasmussen Reports first asked this question in mid-March. Thirty-one percent (31%) say China should not have to pay, down from 36% four months ago. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) rate President Trump’s dealings with China since the outbreak of the coronavirus as good or excellent. Forty-five percent (45%) say he’s done a poor job.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted July 23 and 26, 2020 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Most voters agree with Congress’ attempt to fashion another coronavirus stimulus package. But they worry that the plan will be loaded with unnecessary goodies because Congress is motivated primarily by political gain rather than what people really need.

Men blame China for the virus more than women do. Women are more likely to be undecided. Middle-aged voters are the age group most critical of China.

Republicans (71%) are also more convinced than Democrats (44%) and unaffiliated voters (43%) that China should pick up the tab for at least some of the world’s coronavirus costs.

Eighty-seven percent (87%) of voters who Strongly Approve of Trump’s job performance think China should help pay some of the global costs of the coronavirus. Only 28% of those who Strongly Disapprove of the job Trump is doing agree.

Those who blame China for the coronavirus are more likely to approve of Trump’s dealings with the Asian giant.

In surveying in late April, most voters wanted the United Nations to punish China for inflicting the coronavirus on the world, and a sizable number favored state lawsuits against China.

Fifty-six percent (56%) of Democrats said in mid-March, though, that it’s racist when Trump refers to the coronavirus as “a Chinese virus.” Sixty percent (60%) of GOP voters disagreed. Unaffiliateds were almost evenly divided.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it's free) or follow us on Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.