China viewed more favourably than the US: Key Takeaways
- China is now viewed more favourably than the US in 25 of the 36 countries surveyed
- The reversal reflects both China’s improving image and a steep decline in confidence in the US and Donald Trump
- In many middle-income countries, China is increasingly seen as the more reliable partner and a greater force for global stability
A survey from Pew Research Centre has turned up a shift in how people perceive the world’s superpower duo, and America has slipped from the place of honour. China is now viewed more favourably than the US, with approval ratings 25 out of 36 countries skewing in favour of the Asian nation.
Public opinion is slipping in key US global markets
The US only came out ahead in six of the surveyed nations: among them Japan, India, South Korea and the Philippines – interestingly all nations near China. Another factor that might rattle American business is that countries like Canada, Mexico, the UK, France and Germany – all major markets for US business – looked more favourably upon China.
It’s largely down an improvement in China’s image and a sharp deterioration in views of the US. Take Canada. 57% of surveyed people there viewed the US positively in 2023, compared with 14% for China. Three years on, China’s rating has risen to 44%, while America’s has fallen to 33%.
Asian nations tended to view China favourably, but that was less true with neighbours
China’s strongest results came in parts of Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. In Pakistan, 90% of respondents held a favourable view of China, against 15% for the US. In Malaysia, the gap was 75% to 19%. In Indonesia, 72% to 29%.
Now, you might be reading this with some theory of what’s driven this reversal. If it has something to do with leadership, you’ll likely find this interesting: The report found that Chinese President Xi Jinping commands more confidence than US President Donald Trump in 22 of the countries surveyed. Neither leader scores especially well in many European markets, but Xi’s ratings were consistently higher than Trump’s across the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
The US retains one important advantage: respondents remain more likely to say the American government respects personal freedoms than the Chinese government. Yet that gap is narrowing, largely because faith in America’s record has fallen.
None of this shows that China has resolved its reputation problem
In the 17 middle-income countries included in the survey, a median 75% said the US interferes in other countries’ affairs, compared with 45% for China. Many also described China as the more reliable partner and a greater contributor to global peace and stability.
The Dao view: Why the world views China and the US favourably differently
None of this shows that China has resolved its reputation problem. They’ve probably still got a long way to go on that front. It’s more about Washington’s own standing weakening enough to redraw the comparison. In a geopolitical competition increasingly fought through trade, investment and influence, that’s no small win for Beijing.
