Americans’ Views of China Are Warming

Americans’ views towards China are warming, according to a March 2026 Pew Research Center poll. Around 27 percent of U.S. adults now view China favorably, up 6 percentage points from last year and nearly double the share of 2023. While Democrats remain more positive than Republicans, favorability has risen in both groups, increasing by 13 percentage points among Democrats and 9 percentage points among Republicans since 2024. However, a clear majority (71 percent) continues to hold an unfavorable view.

Confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping on global affairs has also ticked up, rising four percentage points since 2025 and nearly double its 2023 level. Fewer Americans now see China as an enemy (28 percent in 2026, down from 33 percent in 2025), although most still consider the country a competitor (60 percent in 2026, up from 56 percent in 2025).

As U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to meet with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in May draws nearer, Americans' confidence in Trump’s handling of China is slipping. In March 2026, 39 percent expressed confidence in his decision-making, down from 45 percent in August. Republicans were more optimistic, with 71 percent reporting confidence, compared to just 11 percent of Democrats.

Despite recent shifts, sentiment has been largely negative for the past decade. The last time the share of U.S. adults with favorable views outweighed the share with unfavorable ones was in 2012, at 41 percent to 40 percent.