rki.news
WASHINGTON, April 15: American public perceptions of China have shown slight improvement ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Beijing next month, though overall sentiment remains largely negative.
The Pew Research Center report released Tuesday found that positive views of China among Americans have nearly doubled since 2023.
“Today, 27% of Americans have a positive opinion of China. That has risen 6 percentage points since last year and nearly doubled since 2023,” it said.
Despite the improvement, 71% of Americans still hold an unfavorable view of China. Fewer respondents now describe China as an “enemy,” though most still see it as a competitor rather than a partner.
The findings are based on two national surveys conducted in January and March 2026, involving nearly 12,000 adults across the United States.
The report comes as Trump prepares to visit Beijing from May 14–15 for talks with President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to China during his second term.
Analysts say the shift reflects gradual changes in public opinion amid ongoing economic and strategic competition between the two powers, even as skepticism toward China remains dominant in the United States.