New poll shows shift in global opinions towards China over the U.S.
The United States has seen a significant shift in global perceptions, now trailing behind China in favorability across numerous countries, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, reports BritPanorama.
Favorable views of China have surpassed those of the U.S. in 25 out of 36 countries surveyed, including Canada and Mexico. The poll, conducted from February to May, coincided with escalating tensions as the U.S. and Israel engaged in military operations against Iran.
Only six countries continue to view the U.S. more positively than China. In addition, leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping are perceived more favorably than U.S. President Donald Trump in many nations, including prominent European states. However, overall confidence in both leaders appears to be low.
This marks the first time in approximately 20 years of Pew tracking that China has gained a more positive image than the U.S., according to Pew’s Global Attitudes Research associate director Laura Silver. While perceptions of both capitals have fluctuated over time, this is the first notably favorable stance towards China.
The change follows a period where the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have receded, and Silver indicates that global views of the U.S. have declined. There is a clear relationship between the outbreak of conflict and a diminishing confidence in U.S. contributions to peace.
Criticism of Trump’s policies, including tariffs on Canadian goods and controversial military decisions, has also played a role in the international perception shift. Allegations of poor handling of the U.S.’s international commitments, particularly during conflicts such as the Israeli-Hamas war, have contributed to declining approval ratings.
The U.S. still leads in perceptions related to respect for personal freedoms; however, this gap is narrowing. The Pew report notes that a growing number of people across surveyed countries feel the U.S. government is failing to uphold these freedoms.
In Canada, only 33% now hold a favorable view of the U.S., a drop from 57% in 2023, while favorability towards China has skyrocketed from 14% to 44%. European countries have also reported similar trends, with major shifts noted in public opinion across France, Germany, Spain, and others. In the UK, views have tightened considerably; previously, 60% of the populace viewed the U.S. positively, this figure has now plateaued, reflecting a 32 percentage point reduction in favourability for Washington.
Israel remains the top outlier, where 80% of citizens still view the U.S. positively contrasted with only 19% for China. The remaining nations with positive views of the U.S. include Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines, and Poland, though sentiments towards the U.S. have also dimmed among these allies.
As the Pew study reveals these evolving dynamics, it raises critical questions about the U.S.’s long-term standing on the global stage amidst a changing geopolitical landscape.
