China overtakes United States in global favourability for first time, Pew survey finds

A new Pew Research Center survey has found that China is now viewed more favourably than the United States across the countries and territories surveyed, marking a reversal in a long-running pattern. The findings were released on Wednesday and are based on interviews with more than 42,000 people in 36 countries between February and May. The result suggests a notable shift in global public opinion at a time of strained perceptions of Washington and improving views of Beijing.

Sponsored

The survey found a median of 51% of respondents held a favourable view of China, compared with 39% who held an unfavourable view. Pew said China was rated more positively than the United States in 25 of the 36 countries and territories included in the study. In only six countries did respondents view the United States more positively than China, according to the survey results.

The research also found low confidence in both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, although the Chinese president scored higher than the US president. Pew said views of China had improved after reaching historic lows in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some places were now at new highs. Laura Silver, an associate director of Pew's Global Attitudes Research, said there was a link between the outbreak of war and the sense that the United States was not contributing to peace and stability.

The findings matter because they point to a broader change in how major powers are perceived internationally. Public opinion does not determine foreign policy, but it can shape the environment in which governments negotiate, build alliances and justify their positions abroad. A sustained improvement in China's image, alongside weaker views of the United States, could affect diplomatic messaging and soft-power competition in regions where both countries seek influence.

Sponsored

Pew has tracked global attitudes for two decades, making this the first time China has emerged as more favourable than the United States in its survey series. The report also said Washington was still seen as the country that respects personal freedoms more than Beijing, while China was viewed as interfering less in other countries' internal affairs. Those contrasting perceptions suggest that respondents are weighing different aspects of each country's international role rather than expressing a simple overall preference.

What remains unclear is whether the shift reflects a temporary reaction to current events or a longer-term change in global sentiment. The survey covered a broad sample, but attitudes can vary sharply by region and by political context. The next point to watch is whether future polling shows the same pattern, and whether governments in Washington and Beijing adjust their public diplomacy in response.

#China #UnitedStates #PewResearchCenter #globalopinion #DonaldTrump