Americans' Views of China Are Shifting

While American views of China are still chilly, they've continued to thaw for a third straight year. A new Pew survey finds 27% of Americans now view China favorably, up 6% from last year and nearly double the share in 2023, when favorability hit a low point of 14%. Unfavorable views have fallen from 83% in 2023 to 71% now, per Axios. The portion labeling China an "enemy" has also slid, from 42% in 2024 to 28%, with most respondents instead describing it as a "competitor." The shift marks a modest easing of the hard-line, bipartisan skepticism that solidified during Trump's first term.

Though favorability among Democrats is higher at 34%, up 8% from last year, positive views are also rising among Republicans, up 9% from 2024 to 18%. Just 14% of Democrats see China as an enemy, down from 28% in 2024, versus 44% of Republicans, down from 2024's 59%. Younger Americans also have more favorable views of China than older Americans. Though trust in Xi Jinping's handling of world affairs remains low, it has inched up to 17% across the survey pool, twice the 2023 level, per CNN. Meanwhile, confidence in Trump's China policy is falling, with 60% expressing little or no trust in his handling of the relationship, up 5% from last year. The survey of 3,507 US adults was conducted March 23-29 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.