US should stop manipulating perceptions

According to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute's 2024 National Defense Survey, which was released in November, three-quarters of the respondents said they viewed China as either "something of an enemy" or "a strong enemy". This percentage has remained roughly constant over the past two years. The survey showed the American public generally supports the use of diplomatic, economic, and military measures to strengthen Taiwan's defense and deter the Chinese mainland's "aggression".

Also, four out of five respondents expressed concern over the cooperation among China, Russia, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Why do Americans perceive China thus, and does the survey reflect the genuine opinions of the American public?