Pew Research Center survey finds China viewed more favorably than the US in majority of countries polled.
A Pew Research Center survey of over 42,000 people across 36-37 countries found that more respondents now view China favorably than the United States. The survey, conducted between February and May 2026, marks the first time Pew has recorded China leading the US in global favorability across so many countries since it began tracking in 2002. Only six countries, Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel, still view the US more positively than China.
17
Divergence score
9 outlets covered it, splitting into 7 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
7 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 9 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
BBC
Globe and Mail
Washington Times
AP News
NPR
South China Morning Post
Washington Post
The Hill
Bloomberg
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
The split, in one line
All outlets report the same core finding, but the attribution of cause splits: some emphasize Trump-era policies and the Iran war, while others note China benefiting from pandemic memory fading and comparison effects.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
THE LEFT
“China has become more popular than U.S. in much of world, survey finds”WP Washington Post LEFT
17LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“China and Xi are seen more favorably than the U.S. and Trump in many nations, new survey says”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests” · BBC, Globe and Mail, AP News, South China Morning Post, The Hill, Bloomberg
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 9 outlets put it
LEFT2
NPRNPR China and Xi favored over US and Trump in many nations: Survey 20h ago WPWashington Post China has become more popular than U.S. in much of world, survey finds 1d ago CENTER3
APAP News China and Xi are seen more favorably than the US and Trump in many nations, new survey says HThe Hill Many countries favor China and Xi over Trump and the US: Polling 19h ago BLBloomberg China Tops US in Global Favorability for First Time, Pew Finds 23h ago INTERNATIONAL3
BBCBBC More people around the world now favour China over the US, Pew study suggests 23h ago GMGlobe and Mail China now viewed more favourably than U.S. in 20 countries, Pew survey finds 23h ago SCSouth China Morning Post Global views of China and Xi improve as perceptions of US decline, Pew survey finds 23h ago 9 tracked claims across 9 outlets
Fact ledger
All9Claimed2Corroborated7
4/9
Claimed
The shift in favorability was driven by tensions between the Trump administration and US allies, the Iran war, and US actions regarding Greenland and Venezuela.
Corroborated
Disputed
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