Are Americans Warming Up To China? New Survey Answers

Last Updated:April 15, 2026, 11:12 IST

The survey also showed declining confidence in US President Donald Trump’s ability to handle China policy.

American attitudes towards China have softened modestly, with more people expressing favourable views and fewer seeing the country as an enemy, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March.

The survey found that 27% of Americans now hold a positive opinion of China, up 6 percentage points from last year and nearly double the share in 2023. At the same time, confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to handle world affairs has also risen slightly, while fewer Americans believe China benefits unfairly from trade with the US, Pew said.

Political, Generational Divide

The shift in sentiment is largely driven by Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, with positive views rising more sharply in this group, while opinions among Republicans remain largely unchanged, according to Pew. Younger Americans are also more likely to view China favourably compared to older age groups.

Despite the change, most Americans continue to see China as a competitor rather than a partner, and only a small share consider it an ally. The proportion describing China as an “enemy" has declined in recent years, indicating a shift in how the bilateral relationship is perceived, the report said.

Views On Trump, Xi

The survey also showed declining confidence in US President Donald Trump’s ability to handle China policy, with about 39% expressing confidence, down from 45% last year. However, there remains a sharp partisan divide, with Republicans far more confident in Trump’s approach than Democrats.

Confidence in Xi has also increased slightly, though a majority of Americans still do not trust him to do the right thing in global affairs, Pew said.

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