{"id":20371,"date":"2026-07-17T10:19:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=20371"},"modified":"2026-07-17T10:19:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T04:34:32","slug":"global-opinion-shifts-china-viewed-more-favorably-than-the-us-in-25-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=20371","title":{"rendered":"Global Opinion Shifts: China Viewed More Favorably Than the US in 25 Countries<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

A significant shift has emerged in global public opinion, with China now viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 of the 36 countries and territories included in the latest survey by the Pew Research Center.<\/p>\n

According to a researcher involved in the study, this is the first time in nearly two decades of Pew\u2019s global opinion tracking that China has held a clear advantage over the United States across such a broad range of countries. Although views of the two powers had been similar at certain points in the past, China had not previously recorded a lead of this scale.<\/p>\n

Pew surveyed 42,151 adults between February 8 and May 13. The research covered countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, Africa and West Asia. The findings indicate that views of China have improved in recent years, while favorable perceptions of the United States have weakened in many places.<\/p>\n

Only six countries\u2014Israel, Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines and Poland\u2014viewed the United States more positively than China. Four of them are in the Asia-Pacific region. Historical disputes, border tensions and security concerns appear to have contributed to comparatively negative attitudes toward China in several of these countries.<\/p>\n

By contrast, China has moved ahead of the United States, or sharply narrowed the gap, in Canada, Mexico and a number of traditional European partners of Washington.<\/p>\n

In Canada, 57 percent of respondents held a favorable view of the United States in 2023, compared with only 14 percent for China. In the latest survey, favorable views of the United States fell to 33 percent, while positive perceptions of China rose to 44 percent.<\/p>\n

Confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping was also higher than confidence in US President Donald Trump in 22 countries and territories. However, trust in both leaders remained low in many places, suggesting that the result should be interpreted as a comparative judgment rather than broad endorsement of either leader.<\/p>\n

The survey was conducted amid growing debate over the Trump administration\u2019s \u201cAmerica First\u201d policy, trade tensions with allied countries, global tariff measures and US involvement in several international crises.<\/p>\n

The survey period also coincided with intensified military developments involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Researchers noted that such events may have influenced public assessments of Washington\u2019s role in global peace and stability. The survey, however, does not establish any single event as the direct cause of the shift.<\/p>\n

In 17 middle-income countries, respondents expressed greater concern about US foreign policy than about China\u2019s.<\/p>\n

A median of 75 percent in those countries said the United States interfered a great deal or a fair amount in the affairs of other countries, compared with 45 percent who said the same about China.<\/p>\n

In several middle-income countries, China was also seen as a more reliable partner and as making a greater contribution to international peace and stability.<\/p>\n

In South Africa, 72 percent described China as a reliable partner, while 46 percent said the same of the United States. The share of South Africans who believed China contributed to global peace and stability rose from 47 percent in 2023 to 64 percent in the latest survey.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s expanding role in infrastructure, trade, the digital economy, green energy, electric vehicles, railways and other development projects may be one factor behind its improving image.<\/p>\n

In many developing countries, China is increasingly viewed as a source of investment, market access and infrastructure development. This, however, is a broader interpretation of the findings, as the Pew survey did not separately measure every reason behind the change in attitudes.<\/p>\n

The United States continued to receive a stronger assessment than China on respect for civil liberties. Yet even this advantage has narrowed.<\/p>\n

The change is not solely the result of better views of China. Confidence that the United States respects the personal freedoms of its own citizens has also declined sharply in many countries.<\/p>\n

In Sweden, the share of people who believed the United States respected individual freedoms fell from 61 percent in 2021 to 27 percent. Significant declines were also recorded in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea and Spain.<\/p>\n

The results should not be interpreted simply as evidence that China has decisively won a global popularity contest.<\/p>\n

Public opinion surveys are influenced by timing, question design, sampling methods, domestic political conditions and current international events. Directly framing China and the United States as rivals can also encourage a zero-sum interpretation of global politics.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the Pew findings reveal an important structural change. At a time when questions are growing over the traditional prestige and reliability of the United States, perceptions of China are becoming more positive across many parts of the world.<\/p>\n

This shift appears to reflect not only China\u2019s expanding economic and diplomatic presence, but also increasing dissatisfaction with US foreign policy and international conduct.<\/p>\n

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