UPI Poll: China top U.S. economy rival

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- China is seen as the world's main economic rival to the United States, respondents to a UPI-Zogby International poll said.

More than three-quarters -- 75.2 percent -- of those surveyed May 16-18 listed China as the top economic rival to the United States. Japan was named by 14.4 percent of those asked and "not sure" by 5.6 percent. No other country polled as much as 1 percent.

Even with the lopsided overall results there was a clear ideological spilt on the issue. More than 80 percent of self-described progressives named China as the top U.S. economic rival while 10.3 percent said Japan. Among the "very conservative," 68.7 percent listed China and 17.2 percent said Japan.

There were similar differences in the gender subset results: 83.1 percent of male respondents gave China as their answer and 10.8 percent said Japan while 67.8 percent of women said China and 17.6 percent Japan.

The Zogby Interactive poll had 5,141 participants and has a margin of error of 1.4 percentage points.