New Pew Research Centre data shows China is now seen in a more positive light than the US in most of 37 countries surveyed and more people, overall, now say they have confidence in Xi rather than Trump.

Donald Trump’s would-be, perhaps may-be, dictatorship aspirations have had a precipitous effect on how the US is viewed in the world. That is clear in the just released (15 July) results of the annual Pew Research Centre survey comparing how the US and China are viewed in a range of nations. 

The survey of more than 45,000 people in 37 countries, conducted between 8 February and 13 May 2026 – therefore complicated by part of it being conducted before the US attack on Iran, the rest after – confirms a trend of fast-falling trust in the US and steady rise in support for both China and its president, Xi Jinping.

Across the countries surveyed, a median of 51 per cent have a favourable view of China, while 39 per cent do not. China is seen more positively than the US in 25 of the 37 countries.

In 20, mainly high income, countries, which have a longer survey history, China is viewed favourably by 46 per cent to the US 36 per cent, a strong reversal from figures a year prior showing the US at 48 per cent and China 38 per cent. Among those nations, as recently as 2022, the US was favoured 63 per cent (China 21 per cent).

Many of the larger shifts to China have occurred in nations with strongly negative views towards China in the last five years, including Australia, Canada, South Korea and Sweden.

In other places, views of China are now at or near historic highs. Such is the case in much of Europe, where in nations, erstwhile allies of the US, favourable attitudes toward China have grown dramatically, reaching over 50 per cent in Greece, Spain, Hungary and Italy.

In the Asia-Pacific region opinions about China vary most, with 90 per cent of Pakistanis looking on China favourably, compared with just 11 per cent of Japanese.

People in 17 middle-income countries raise more concerns about US foreign policy than China’s. A median of 75 per cent say the US interferes in the affairs of other countries a great deal or a fair amount, while 45 per cent say the same of China. In nearly every country surveyed, more people see the US as interfering more in other nations than China.

Similarly, people in many of these middle-income countries see China (69 per cent) as a more reliable partner than the US (49 per cent) and are more likely to say China contributes to peace and stability around the world.

As to China being a threat – a constant theme in Australia – those surveyed in many nations in the Asia-Pacific region, adjacent to or near to China, do not perceive it so. In Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, around one-in-ten name China as a top threat, often ranking it below the US. In many of these same countries, China is frequently named as a top ally. In their fear of China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia are exceptions to the norm.

On turning to the nation’s leaders, though figures for both are low, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is seen more positively than the US president, Donald Trump, in 22 countries. As recently as 2023 then US president, Joe Biden, was favoured 54 per cent to 19 per cent over Xi. Now 31 per cent choose Xi over Trump (21 per cent). Even in Australia Xi is preferred to Trump (23 per cent to 18 per cent).

Still, across the surveyed nations, Xi is only viewed positively by 33 per cent of those surveyed, against 54 per cent who are negative.

The popularity of both China and its president is most evident in nations making up the Global South: Latin America, Africa and parts of South and Southeast Asia. More negative views persist in higher income countries and in some of those geographically close to China.

The income status of country determined attitudes toward both China and its president. Higher income countries, with the exception of Singapore (largely ethnically Chinese) were less favourable to China, while those with middle or lower incomes were more so, exceptions being India and the Philippines.

The Pew Survey, as found previously, again showed positive views towards China as being stronger among the young and by those holding more left-wing views.

Many of the figures show a significant and rapid reversal of opinions, especially among NATO nations. Canada has moved from 57 per cent to 14 per cent favouring the US over China in 2023 to 44 per cent to 33 per cent favouring China over the US. The numbers in the UK went from 59 per cent to 27 per cent in favour of the US to 46 per cent to 41 per cent in favour of China and in Spain from 55 per cent to 38 per cent preferring the US to 54 per cent to 30 per cent preferring China. Australia has also experienced that dramatic movement, moving from supporting the US 52 per cent to 13 per cent to now favouring China 32 per cent to 24 per cent.

In comparing presidents, though Joe Biden’s ratings were in decline, they still stood strongly more favourable to those of Xi Jinping, 47 per cent to 19 per cent in 2024. That has dramatically changed under Donald Trump’s presidency, where support for the US presidency has collapsed, with 31 per cent now favouring Xi over Trump 21 per cent. Following Trump’s folly in Iran, his figures may fall further.

Even in the area of respect for personal freedoms nearly equal numbers say the US fails to respect them, 56 per cent to China’s 58 per cent.

Power essentially exists in two forms, hard and soft, the latter often more viewed as hegemonic power. Recent Pew Research Centre surveys (well worth mining) clearly indicate the rapid loss of soft power by the US. That, along with the limits to its hard power, evident in its Iran ventures, demonstrates a rapid slide in US global status. Meanwhile, China’s star continues to ascend.

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.