For the first time in 20 years, a major global survey conducted between February and May of 2026 has found that more countries favour China over the US.
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The Pew Research Center, a non-partisan, US-based think tank, found that China’s global image is eclipsing that of the US, with 25 out of 36 countries surveyed preferring China over the US – a reversal from previous years.
The shift comes as President Donald Trump's foreign and economic policies have upended the global order. China has spent years working to build a more favourable reputation abroad, drawing accusations of state-sponsored propaganda campaigns, something Beijing has denied.
On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to BBC Asia reporter Tessa Wong, and editor of the podcast Bill Birtles. They unpack this latest chapter in a decades-long contest for global influence between the world's two superpowers.
Read more about the survey here 👉🏽
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd959q11g54o
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Global views of the US and China
03:11 Perception of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in international affairs
04:11 What does “doing the right thing” mean?
05:21 Indonesia and lower income countries' favourable view of China
07:31 China’s soft power: Organic or propaganda?
09:45 Fading stigma of Chinese products being low grade
11:14 How does better perception help China or the US?
13:17 Outlier countries with low favourability of China
14:38 Will China fall out of favour again?
16:28 China’s popularity is separate from Xi’s popularity
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Presenter: Mariko Oi
Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee, Cordelia Lee
Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli
Editor: Bill Birtles
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