Experts credit warming sentiment to economic reliance, diplomatic posture

As multiple global polls showed growing favorability toward China recently, a slow but steady thaw in US public opinion toward China is also underway, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.

Experts attribute the shift to several factors, including China's sound development and improving image presented through a diversified information landscape shaped by social media. These changes, they suggest, could pave the way for cooperation in key areas and contribute to greater stability in bilateral relations.

Released on Tuesday, the Pew Research Center poll revealed an uptick in positive sentiment toward China. The share of surveyed US adults expressing a favorable view of China has nearly doubled since 2023 to reach 27 percent, marking the third consecutive year of improving attitudes. The poll, which surveyed more than 8,500 adults nationwide in January and March, also finds that fewer US citizens now consider China an outright "enemy" compared to last year, indicating a move away from purely adversarial narratives.

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Wei Zongyou, a professor at Fudan University's Center for American Studies in Shanghai, cited China's economic resilience and its diplomatic posture as key factors behind the improving US public sentiment toward the country.

"Against a backdrop of global economic sluggishness, China's development remains robust, and its role in fields like AI is prominent," Wei said. "Internationally, China consistently advocates dialogue and peace. These realities show the American public that China is an important force for global economic growth and stability, not a threat."

Experts also emphasized the significant role of social media in driving this shift. "The prevalence of social platforms allows ordinary people to see a more authentic China beyond the negative portrayals often found in mainstream American media," Wei said. "This contributes to a more unbiased public impression."

Generational divide

This dynamic is most pronounced among younger Americans, reflecting a stark generational divide. The poll finds that about a third of adults under 50 view China favorably, compared to just 19 percent of those aged 50 and older.

Wei from Fudan University linked this generational divide to the younger people's "more open minds" and the fact that they are "less constrained by ideological stereotypes", and their increasing reliance on social media for information over traditional news sources. This social media exposure, he argued, allows them to form a more unbiased and authentic picture of China's development.

He said the US students pursuing short-term programs in China often said they were surprised at the stark disparity between the friendly, relatable society they had seen and what the US media outlets had depicted in their reports. "Youth exchanges help break down prejudice and information barriers," he said.

In addition to age, partisan divides also play a role. The Pew poll shows the growing favorability toward China is largely driven by Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, who are nearly twice as likely as Republicans to hold positive China views.

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Sun Chenghao, head of the US-Europe Program at Tsinghua University's Center for International Security and Strategy, noted that Republicans have deeply embedded "toughness on China" into their party's identity. "For Republicans, being hawkish on China is not just a foreign policy stance but a tool for domestic political mobilization, tightly bound to issues like security, manufacturing job losses, and tech competition."

In contrast, he noted, while Democratic voters also support competing with China, they normally emphasize areas like climate cooperation and global governance and are more resistant to framing China as an outright "enemy".

However, Sun cautioned that improved public opinion would not automatically rewrite the institutional logic of US strategic competition with China. "This change is more likely to create space for cooperation within a context of managed competition, rather than signal an end to competition."

Contact the writers at yangran1@chinadaily.com.cn