American views of China improve before Xi-Trump summit, Pew report finds

President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to the United States coincides with a shift in Americans' attitudes toward China, according to a new Pew Research Centre report. Despite a generally negative perception of China, the rating has risen from 28 in 2021 to 37 in the latest survey. Laura Silver and Laura Clancy, researchers at Pew, noted that while overall feelings about China remain cold, they have warmed in recent years.

The share of Americans rating China from 51 to 100 has grown from 11% in 2021 to 19% today, while those with a neutral rating of 50 have increased from 20% to 27%. Conversely, those with a cold rating from 0 to 49 have decreased from 68% to 54%. The survey, conducted among 5,193 US adults from September 14 to 20, took place just before Xi's three-day visit to Washington, which includes meetings at the White House, a state dinner, and a visit to the National Archives.

Political affiliation and age also influence these views, with Democrats rating China more favorably compared to Republicans, and younger Americans expressing more welcoming views than older adults. Despite these warming trends, tensions persist between Washington and Beijing over issues such as AI, rare earths, and trade, with China hawks in Congress advocating for a tougher stance against Beijing.

The Chinese embassy in Washington has yet to comment on these findings. A recent survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs echoes these trends, with Americans giving China an average feeling-thermometer rating of 39 this year, up from 26 in 2024. About 57% of respondents in this survey believe the US should pursue cooperation and engagement with China.