This research is exploratory at this stage. It attempts to compare recent trends in how ordinary people in different countries or regions near China geographically have responded to China’s rise in economic and military power: South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, India, Laos. We examine three types factors for the variation in which ordinary people in these countries have responded to China’s rise. The first is the economic tie, measured by trade data between China and each country. It is hypothesized that a higher tie would lead to a more favorable opinion of China. The second is the cultural tie, measured by shared acceptance of Confucianism. It is hypothesized that a closer cultural tie through Confucianism would lead to a more favorable opinion of China. The third is political system. It is hypothesized that an authoritarianism political system would lead to either a more favorable or less favorable opinion of China, depending on whether the political regime is oppressive or benevolent.