Why more countries are favouring China over the US

For the first time in 20 years, a major global survey conducted between February and May of 2026 has found that more countries favour China over the US.
The Pew Research Center, a non-partisan, US-based think tank, found that China’s global image is eclipsing that of the US, with 25 out of 36 countries surveyed preferring China over the US – a reversal from previous years.

The shift comes as President Donald Trump's foreign and economic policies have upended the global order. China has spent years working to build a more favourable reputation abroad, drawing accusations of state-sponsored propaganda campaigns, something Beijing has denied.

On this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks to Tessa Wong, BBC's Asia reporter, and Bill Birtles, editor of the podcast, unpacking this latest chapter in a decades-long contest for global influence between the world's two superpowers.

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