Pew survey: China and Xi favored over US and Trump in 25 of 36 countries

For the first time in roughly 20 years, more people in surveyed nations view China favorably than the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday. Favourable views of China outpace those of the U.S. in 25 of 36 countries, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping is viewed more positively than President Donald Trump in 22 of 36 nations. Source: AP

Key findings

• China's favourability average stands at 46% across 20 countries surveyed consistently, versus 36% for the U.S. Source: SCMP
• Only six countries still favour the U.S. over China: Poland, Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan and Israel. Source: Guardian
• In Canada, favourable views of the U.S. plummeted from 57% in 2023 to 33%, while China's rose from 14% to 44%. Source: NPR
• Major European nations including France, Germany, and the UK now view China more favourably than the U.S. Source: CNA

Reasons for the shift

• US policies and actions: The Trump administration's tariffs on allies, demands to control Greenland, military raids in Venezuela, and handling of the Gaza war have soured global opinion. Source: AP
• Iran war: The survey period coincided with the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, contributing to perceptions that the U.S. is not promoting peace. Source: CNA
• China's relative stability: China is seen as a more reliable partner, benefitting from the fading memory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Guardian

Despite the shift, confidence in both Xi and Trump remains low in many countries, with Pew researcher Laura Silver noting that the U.S. still leads on government respect for personal freedoms, though the gap is narrowing. Source: NPR