Some external links may require a subscription.
Today, politics shapes the image of the U.S., according to Carter Center surveys: about three-quarters of Chinese people now primarily see the U.S. as a threat to national security. When asked about their feelings toward the country, Chinese respondents now rate the U.S. at 3.4 out of 10.
Chinese views of the U.S. worsened during the years when Beijing–Washington relations also became more turbulent. First there was the trade war launched by Donald Trump in 2018, although Joe Biden was also unpopular because of his Taiwan-friendly policies, says Liu Yawei of the Carter Center. Russia now ranks as the most favored country.