China and Xi Jinping Seen More Favorably Than US in Global Poll
Historic Shift in International Opinion
China and Xi Jinping seen more positively than ever before, according to new Pew Research Center data. For decades, the United States held global favorability, but this dynamic has fundamentally changed. The reversal reflects growing tensions between Washington and traditional allies worldwide.
The comprehensive survey found that 25 of 36 nations and territories now view China more favorably than the United States. Notable shifts occurred in Canada and Mexico, where public sentiment has moved significantly. The research was conducted between February and May, during a period when the US and Israel engaged in military operations against Iran.
Regional Differences Remain
Despite the overall trend, six countries—Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel—continue to favor the United States over China. This finding was published on Wednesday alongside other results from the extensive study.
Leadership comparisons reveal a similar pattern. In 22 of 36 surveyed regions, Xi Jinping enjoys greater favorability than Donald Trump. This includes Canada, Mexico, and major European nations such as France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Confidence levels in both leaders remain relatively low across many countries.
“It marks the first time in the roughly 20 years Pew has been tracking global opinions that China has been viewed more positively than the US,” stated Laura Silver, associate director of Pew’s Global Attitudes Research.
Key Factors Behind the Change
Silver explained that while views of Beijing and Washington had occasionally been comparable in previous years, this represents the first sustained period where China holds a significant advantage. The transformation coincides with the pandemic receding from global consciousness and worldwide perceptions of the United States deteriorating.
“There was just an actual relationship between the outbreak of the war and the sense that the US is just not contributing to peace and stability and that people have less confidence in Donald Trump,” she noted.
Several specific events have contributed to declining approval ratings for the United States. Trump’s assertions regarding control over Greenland, the American military operation that captured Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro, and Washington’s management of the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza have all played roles. Meanwhile, China has benefited from both the fading memory of the pandemic and comparative advantages.
“By comparison, we know that China is seen to be a more reliable partner in many places. It’s more likely to be seen to contribute to global peace and stability,” the researcher explained.
Allies Experience Dramatic Shifts
Some of the most striking changes have occurred among American allies. Canada exemplifies this trend dramatically. In the current survey, merely 33 percent of Canadians express positive views of the United States, a substantial decline from 57 percent recorded in 2023. Conversely, favorable opinions of China among Canadians climbed from 14 percent to 44 percent during the same timeframe.
Trump’s imposition of numerous tariffs on Canadian merchandise last year, combined with his suggestion that Canada might become the “51st state,” contributed to this reversal. Major European nations—including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands—have similarly altered their perspectives on the world’s two dominant economies.
Within the United States itself, public opinion has converged considerably. Approximately six out of ten Americans held positive views of their own country in 2023, but now perceive China and the United States as roughly equivalent. Three years prior, Washington enjoyed a 32 percentage point advantage in domestic favorability.
Methodology and Additional Findings
The Pew report indicates that while the United States maintains an edge over China regarding government respect for personal freedoms, this gap continues to narrow. The comprehensive study encompassed more than 42,000 respondents across 35 countries plus the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Statistical margins of error varied between 2.3 and 5.
