According to a new Pew Research Center poll, China is now viewed more favorably than the United States by people in 25 out of 36 surveyed countries. This marks a significant shift from previous years, driven partly by tensions between the Trump administration and US allies.
Key Takeaways
A new Pew Research Center poll shows that China and its leader Xi Jinping are viewed more favorably than the US and President Donald Trump in many countries. The shift comes amid tensions between the Trump administration and US allies, including tariffs on Canadian goods and actions related to Venezuela and Gaza.
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable Views Of China Vs Us | Broad Agreement | 25/36 countries favor China over the US | |
| Countries Favoring Xi Jinping Over Trump | Broad Agreement | 22/36 countries favor Xi Jinping over Trump | |
| Countries Still Favoring The Us Over China | Broad Agreement | Poland, Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, Israel | |
| Canada's Views On The Us And China | Broad Agreement | 33% view US positively; 44% view China positively |
Favorable Views Of China Vs Us
Broad Agreement25/36 countries favor China over the US
Countries Favoring Xi Jinping Over Trump
Broad Agreement22/36 countries favor Xi Jinping over Trump
Countries Still Favoring The Us Over China
Broad AgreementPoland, Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, Israel
Canada's Views On The Us And China
Broad Agreement33% view US positively; 44% view China positively
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The survey was conducted from February to May this year, a period marked by conflicts such as the war between the United States and Israel against Iran. In only six countries—Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel—do people still see the US more positively than China. The poll also found that views in 22 out of the 36 countries are more favorable toward Chinese leader Xi Jinping than US President Donald Trump.
Laura Silver, associate director of Pew’s Global Attitudes Research, noted that this is the first time in roughly 20 years that China has been viewed more positively than the US. The shift follows the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a distant issue and global views of the US souring. Factors contributing to low approval include Trump's demands to control Greenland, the American military raid capturing Venezuela’s then-leader Nicolás Maduro, and the handling of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza.
China appears to have gained from comparisons with the US, being seen as a more reliable partner contributing to global peace and stability. Notably, Canada has drastically shifted its views, with only 33% holding positive views of the US, down from 57% in 2023, while favorable opinions of China rose from 14% to 44%. Major European countries have also switched their opinions on the world’s two largest economies. The U.S. is still ahead of China when it comes to government respect for personal freedoms, though the gap is shrinking.
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