China is now viewed more positively than the US in most of the 36 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center in early 2026, with similar patterns seen in views of their leaders, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

The change is driven by improved perceptions of China and declining views of the United States.

The world has largely viewed the U.S. more favorably than China for years, but those opinions now have flipped in Beijing’s favor.