China overtakes US as more positive influence in Latin America: Poll
BOGOTÁ: China’s influence in Latin America is now viewed more positively than that of the United States, a major poll conducted in 17 Latin American countries showed Friday.
Latinobarómetro poll reveals Chinese influence on the rise in Latin America.
For the first time in the 31-year history of the Latinobarómetro survey, beginning in 1995, China's influence in Latin America is now viewed more positively than that of the United States.
In the latest poll, 65% of Latin American respondents considered China a positive influence, up from 48% in 2016. Meanwhile, the United States' positive influence rating fell to 57%, from 60% in 2020.
Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the sole exceptions, with US influence still deemed more positive than China's in these two countries.
The shift in perception is attributed, in part, to the United States' perceived absence from Latin America since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. During this period, Latin America's ties to other powers, including China, the European Union and Japan, strengthened.
Latinobarómetro's director, Marta Lagos, noted that China's attractiveness lies in its ability to provide affordable imports to Latin American consumers.
The growing dislike of the United States comes as the United States pushes for hegemony in the region under its "Donroe Doctrine," named after the fifth U.S. president James Monroe.
Despite the shift, the United States remains more popular than China among Latin Americans, with 63% having a favorable view of the U.S., compared to 58% for China. However, this is a marked decline from 73% in 2024 under Democratic President Joe Biden.
The poll surveyed 19,200 Latin Americans across 17 countries between May and June 2026, with a margin of error of 1%.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
