Public opinion toward the world’s two leading powers has undergone a notable shift. Pew Research Center’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey reveals significant differences in how countries perceive China and the United States. How the World Views the U.S. and ChinaThe chart below plots favorable opinions of China and the U.S. using Pew Research Center’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey. Many countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America express more favorable views of China. How does public opinion compare with hard power?