Overview
- Pew released a large international survey on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, finding median favorability for China at 46% and for the United States at 36%, with a median 31% saying they trust Xi Jinping to do the right thing in world affairs versus 21% for President Donald Trump.
- Researchers say the shift reflects China’s rebound from pandemic-era lows and growing unease with recent U.S. actions and policies, including tariff moves, high-profile military and political interventions, and responses to regional conflicts such as the Israel‑Iran war.
- The change is uneven: China is more favored than the U.S. in 25 of 36 places surveyed, while six U.S. partners — Israel, Japan, India, South Korea, the Philippines and Poland — continue to view Washington more positively.
- Despite gains for China, many publics report low confidence in both leaders and still view the U.S. as more likely to respect personal freedoms, though that advantage has narrowed in several countries.
- The shift could reshape diplomatic and economic ties, especially in Latin America and parts of the Global South where U.S. favorability has fallen, so analysts say watch for adjustments in U.S. policy and renewed Chinese outreach.