A new Pew Research Center survey reveals a notable shift in American public opinion toward China, marking the first dip in unfavorable views in five years. Conducted among 3,605 U.S. adults in late March 2025, the survey found 77% of respondents held negative perceptions of China—down from 81% in 2024—with a 10-percentage-point decline in those expressing "very unfavorable" views.
Only one-third now label China as an "enemy" of the U.S., compared to 42% last year, while most categorize the relationship as competitive. This softening sentiment emerges amidst heightened trade tensions, including U.S. tariff increases on Chinese imports from 10% to 20% in early 2025.
The findings, while preliminary, suggest evolving dynamics in cross-Pacific relations. Experts hypothesize that economic interdependence and cultural exchanges may be tempering prior adversarial outlooks, though geopolitical debates remain fraught. For investors and policymakers, these shifts could signal opportunities to recalibrate engagement strategies in Asia's largest economy.
