Since Donald Trump took office again, global perceptions of the United States and China have reversed. While favorability toward the U.S. has sharply declined, China has recovered from its negative image during the COVID-19 pandemic and now surpasses the U.S.
According to a survey released on July 15 by the Pew Research Center, in 25 out of 36 countries and regions surveyed, China's favorability ratings were statistically significantly higher than those of the U.S. The U.S. led in favorability only in six countries: South Korea, Japan, India, the Philippines, Poland, and Israel.
The shift has become particularly evident in recent years. The median favorability rating for the U.S. among the G20 countries dropped from 58% in 2023 to 36% this year. In contrast, China's favorability rose from 32% to 46% during the same period.
Ratings for the leaders of both countries have also flipped. Trust in Xi Jinping to 'do the right thing regarding international issues' stands at 31%, surpassing Trump's 21%. During the tenure of former President Joe Biden, trust in the U.S. president was significantly higher than in Xi.
Notably, changes have been pronounced among traditional U.S. allies. In the United Kingdom, China's favorability reached 46%, exceeding the U.S. rating of 41%. Similar trends were observed in France, Germany, Canada, and Spain, where China outperformed the U.S. Analysts suggest that Trump's administration's tariff policies and pressure on allies under the 'America First' agenda contributed to the decline in trust toward the U.S.
In Asia, where security tensions with China persist, the U.S. still maintains an advantage. In South Korea, favorability for the U.S. is 45%, compared to China's 28%. Japan shows a larger gap, with the U.S. at 50% and China at 11%. Favorability ratings for the U.S. also remain higher than those for China in India and the Philippines.
Conversely, China enjoys high favorability ratings in Pakistan and several African nations. In Pakistan, favorability for China reaches 90%, while in Nigeria and Kenya, it exceeds 70%.
This survey was conducted from February to May, involving 42,151 adults across 36 countries and regions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.