American Attitudes Toward China Are Softening

A March 2026 Pew survey finds U.S. adults expressing more favorable views of China than in 2023 — favorable ratings rose to 27% (up 6 points from 2025) and confidence in Xi Jinping and perceptions of China as an "enemy" have declined. The warming is visible across party lines, changing the popular context in which U.S. trade, security, and diplomatic decisions are debated. — If sustained, this shift could lower domestic pressure for maximalist containment policies and reshape bipartisan coalitions on trade, sanctions, and military posturing toward China.