Public attitudes toward China in the United States have shifted noticeably ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to new survey data from the Pew Research Centre.
The survey, conducted in March and released this week, found that positive American sentiment toward China has nearly doubled since 2023. While the findings still show that a clear majority of Americans view China as a competitor rather than a partner, fewer respondents described the country as an outright adversary compared to earlier in 2025, according to reporting by the South China Morning Post.
A shift in public mood
The data suggests a measurable softening in how Americans perceive the world's second-largest economy, even as the two countries continue to navigate significant tensions over trade, technology, and regional security.
The change in sentiment comes at a consequential moment. Trump is preparing to travel to Beijing for what is expected to be a high-stakes diplomatic meeting with Xi, a visit that carries significant implications for the trajectory of the US-China relationship under the current administration.
Context and caveats
The survey does not indicate a wholesale reversal in American opinion. Skepticism of China remains widespread, and the shift reflects a relative softening rather than broadly favorable views. The distinction between viewing China as a competitor versus an adversary is a meaningful one in foreign policy terms - it signals how aggressively the public believes Washington should respond to Beijing's actions.
The warming in public sentiment could provide Trump with some domestic political latitude as he pursues direct engagement with Xi. High-level face-to-face diplomacy between the two leaders has historically been a defining feature of the US-China relationship, with outcomes on trade disputes and other issues often hinging on the personal dynamic between the two heads of state.
What comes next
Details of the summit agenda have not been fully disclosed, but the meeting is expected to cover a range of contentious issues including trade tariffs, technology export controls, and tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
The Pew Research Centre survey adds an important domestic dimension to the lead-up to the summit, suggesting that the American public may be more open to diplomatic engagement with China than in recent years - even as geopolitical competition between the two powers continues.
