The Pew Research Center in the United States released a public opinion poll on Thursday (April 17), showing that despite U.S. President Donald Trump launching a larger-scale trade war against China during his second term and viewing China as an enemy, the number of Americans who see China as an adversary has decreased.

According to this survey, the percentage of Americans with negative views of China dropped four percentage points year-over-year in 2025 - from 81% to 77%, marking the first "significant year-on-year decline" in the past five years, reflecting an overall easing of American society's attitude toward China.

The survey found that one-third of respondents viewed China as an enemy of the United States, a proportion lower than last year's 42%. When asked which country poses the greatest threat to the United States, 42% of Americans mentioned China, down eight percentage points from 2023.

Further analysis shows that older Americans hold the strongest critical attitudes toward China. Among those aged 65 and above, about half of the respondents view China in a "very negative" light; while among the younger group aged under 30, this proportion dropped to 21%.

This change directly reflects that the American public is not entirely led by the government's tough policies toward China. Despite the continuous escalation of trade conflicts at the governmental level, the public has become more calm and rational, no longer blindly defining China as an adversarial role.

An in-depth analysis of the attitudinal differences across age groups reveals some interesting phenomena. Older Americans hold strong critical attitudes toward China, whereas the proportion of those under 30 who hold "very negative" views of China has dropped to 21%. This may be related to the diversity of information sources and the expansion of global perspectives among the younger generation. They are better able to access China's positive achievements in science and technology, culture, and other fields, such as China's development of 5G technology and rich internet cultural exports. These factors have allowed them to form a more three-dimensional and comprehensive understanding of China, rather than relying solely on government propaganda and one-sided media reports.

Despite the increasingly hardline stance of both parties on China policy and their general support for tougher measures, public sentiment has eased. The reasons behind this are complex. On one hand, the trade war has caused direct pain to the lives of American citizens, with issues such as rising prices and increased employment pressure in relevant industries prompting people to reflect on the necessity and correctness of the government's tough policies toward China. On the other hand, as China assumes greater responsibility on the international stage, actively participating in addressing global issues like climate change, its international image has gradually improved, prompting American citizens to reassess their attitudes toward China.

This survey result holds significant implications for the development of Sino-U.S. relations. It serves as a reminder to the U.S. government that a one-sided approach of tough policies toward China does not align with public sentiment. Respecting public opinion and resolving trade disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation are the right path forward.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829708650783748/

Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.