About this episode

The episode discusses shifting Australian attitudes towards America and China based on the latest Lowy Institute Poll findings.

Australians increasingly see China as an economic partner rather than a security threat — while still bracing for it as a long-term military risk. That's one of the striking findings from the 22nd Lowy Institute Poll, launched in Sydney. At the launch, Poll author Charlie Lyons-Jones joined Lowy Institute India Chair Shruti Pandalai and The Interpreter's Managing Editor Dan Flitton, moderated by Research Director Mihai Sora, to unpack a poll that shows record numbers of Australians feeling unsafe in the world, trust in the US at an all-time low, and the gap between how much Australians trust America and China narrowing to just three points. The panel covers Australians' growing sense of insecurity in the world, with 53 per cent now saying they feel unsafe, a record high for the poll. Trust in the US has fallen to a record low of 31 per cent, while trust in China has climbed to 28 per cent, narrowing the gap between the two powers to just three points. Support for AUKUS remains firm despite wavering confidence in Washington, and a majority of Australians still back the US alliance even as confidence in President Trump collapses. The panel also discusses Australian attitudes…

People in this episode

Host: Mihai Sora

Guests: Charlie Lyons-Jones, Shruti Pandalai, Dan Flitton

Topics covered

• Australia-China relations
• US-Australia alliance
• Public opinion
• International security
• Poll analysis
• Geopolitical attitudes

Keywords

• Lowy Institute Poll
• Australia
• China
• United States
• trust
• security
• AUKUS
• public opinion
• geopolitics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lowy Institute, AUKUS, Ukraine

Places: Australia, China, United States, India

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• Whose rules, whose order? Southeast Asia and China’s growing power · June 16, 2026 · 1h 2m

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