Politicians’ anti-China language prompted anti-Asian violence, battleground voters say in new poll

A new poll released on Wednesday revealed that most potential 2024 voters in battleground states believe that politicians’ use of anti-China rhetoric was responsible for the previous spike in violence toward Asian Americans. 

The results of the survey, conducted by the National AAPI Power Fund, is proof that voters “see through the scapegoating,” EunSook Lee, director of the organization, said. 

“The work of communities around the country has been significant enough that there’s a recognition that there have been cases of violence against Asian Americans,” Lee said. “We need to see a decrease in inflammatory rhetoric.”

The poll, which was conducted in September, surveyed 900 likely 2024 general election voters across eight battleground states including Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania, in addition to California. It showed that 61% of likely voters believe politicians’ anti-China rhetoric, casting the country as an economic and national security threat, contributed to anti-Asian violence. 

The study also included surveys from Lake Research Partners that showed participants want to “hear solutions and not place blame,” Joshua Ulibari, partner at the research firm, said in a news release. 

“It’s important that candidates and organizations know that anti-China rhetoric doesn’t foster any short-term or long-term gains,” Ulibari added. “Candidates can and have won without pointing fingers at China or skirting responsibility for inflation and job creation.”

Additionally, a majority of participants said they recognized that the U.S. and China need to work together in pursue of global stability and a stronger global economy. Most also indicated that they are turned off by messaging that is either “too antagonistic or too accommodating” toward China. 

Given the country’s history of racism toward Asian Americans and the rising tensions between the U.S. and China, Lee said many are concerned that that segment of the population is once…