this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2026
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[–] Godort@lemmy.ca 44 points 5 days ago (3 children)

This is not because views of China have improved. It's just that the view of the US has gotten that bad

[–] Rothe@piefed.social 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, the graph clearly shows that for most of these countries it is just the US moving down on the shittiness scale. It is not like these countries are suddenly saying "we love China now", the US has just overtaken them on appearing more shitty. They are both in a race to the bottom.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago

Absolutely, as a European I am more worried about China than before, because without EU and USA being allies on the global scene, there is no doubt that China will dominate even sooner.
None of us can balance out China alone. But hopefully China will be a more graceful world leader than USA. 🙏

[–] djmikeale@feddit.dk 5 points 4 days ago

If you look at the original pew page you can see views of China have improved:

across 20 countries: Median % who have a favorable opinion of China went from 32% in 2023 to 46% in 2026

[–] BlaestEgnen@feddit.dk 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Looking at the 6 countries being more fond of the US, we essentially have 3 groups.

  • China backs Russia: Poland
  • China is a regional threat: the Philippines, South Korea, India and Japan
  • They genuinely like Trump: Israel

But for most, China is reliable and you understand what their goals are. Because they literally have a 100 year plan and tells you most things in advance. Trump is just a smoking gun, he'll do something today, something else tomorrow and I can't even fathom what he'll do the day after - While being corrupted more than any leader of a major country ever has

[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 5 days ago (6 children)

I mean... China didn't threat us with war.

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[–] stumu415@lemmy.zip 15 points 5 days ago (4 children)

China is very predictable as they well stick to their 5, 10, 15 and 25 year plan. It is just that China is always vilified by the western propaganda - which is doing well based on comments here.

China is not setting out for world domination by military force unlike the US. China has 1 army base outside of China (Cambodia) whereas the US has 128. China has not invaded any country militarily since 1979 (Vietnam). Everyone here will yell about Taiwan but maybe if you look at the history this has been going on since the 1800's.

The only Chinese military deployed outside of China, is as part of UN peace keeping force.

China does not interfere openly or barely even comment on external events. Do they work behind the scenes and sometimes neferously - of course. But let's not pretend any other country doesn't do the same thing.

It is quite sad that the world doesn't want to understand China at all. And actually that currently works in their favour as they are getting more self sufficient in regards to green energy, technology incl. chip design, infrastructure including building their own Comac aircrafts. Not to mention the US is gifting China huge soft power. If you have seen how many world leaders have visited China this year alone, it is staggering.

If an opportunity arises to do something impactful on the world stage, they will not shy away, but never ever will they be the bully like the US.

China is focused on China. They have a backup plan for the backup plan for the backup plan.

After this Ted talk I just want to say that the Chinese people are some of the kindest, most generous people in the world, the food is amazing and unbelievably diverse, as is the country itself. From mountains, deserts, jungles, grasslands, beaches, cities, and its rich history and culture; it is an extraordinary place to see.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

China is also doing a lot more to curb global warming than USA is.
USA is a total scumbag country in that regard. The main global villain on environment too.

[–] Methio@jlai.lu 8 points 5 days ago

It was because of Covid, when I saw social media going into litteral foul hatred against China, despite all reasoning, that I started to think differently as a "Western" resident.

I realised all I know about China is US propaganda and hate. Facts are US helped China become strong, then they complain when China becomes a much stronger country since US put all their factories in there, all for monetary gains for their billionaires.

US will claim how they're democratic while China isn't. Placing Trump two times in power made all "democratic" arguments null, since he's going violently after people.

It still don't know China by today. Whether it's a good or bad country I can't know. The only thing I know is who is going into stupid wars and who kills hundred of thousand of people. And it's not China.

USA is the worst country to exist in this world.

[–] deczzz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 days ago (6 children)

I can agree with most of this but china aren't know for being particularly interested in human rights and freedom of speech/press. And don't whatabout me on the state of affairs in USA. USA and china both suck at human rights but I (I might be ignorant) think that the US in its totality still is better

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[–] BlaestEgnen@feddit.dk 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Just don't do a layover through China, that's a complete shitshow. In the rest of the world, traveling from outside the country to outside the country. They'll just let you stick around in the international zone.

China tho, holy fuck. Has to get through another passport control, at which Chinese officers whom doesn't know the visa rules are examining if you have proper visas to enter the country you're traveling to, which funnily enough was already done by the flight company moving you to the Chinese airport. Then another layer of a security check and before you've blinked your 3 hour layover has passed. It literally takes 2.5+ hours to get through that shit

[–] stumu415@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

If you are American probably. The rest of the world has been unilaterally visa free for a few years now. All you need is show your passport and entry card or code, and you can freely travel in China for 30 days. Last time it took all of 10 minutes to get through customs and immigration.

Even if you are in transit and you are one of the 61 countries, you can have a quick look around Shanghai.

[–] BlaestEgnen@feddit.dk 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I'm European enough to have visa free travel to Thailand and that fact broke the passport checker guy. The Chinese officer could not comprehend visa free travel does exist for certain nationals.

Again there's no need for them to do the check, as I'd stay in the international zone of the airport. As well as the initial airline having checked everything was fine before departure, due to them having to cover a return flight if you're not accepted into your destination country - But yeah, it was a complete shit show to layover through China

[–] electric_nan@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 days ago

My wife just transited (with US passport) through Canada end route to Asia. She had to go through what you're describing of China.

[–] WatDabney@sopuli.xyz 16 points 5 days ago

I can't imagine any reasonable person having anything other than an unfavourable reaction to a petty, callow, thin-skinned, vindictive, childish, willfully ignorant and delusional narcissist and to the country that put him in charge.

That China and Xi benefit from that is really just a happenstance. Virtually any world leader and the country they lead are going to look good by comparison.

[–] Sharkticon@lemmy.zip 11 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I mean how could they not? Even if you strip away everything else, there's at least the level of respect for competence. That clearly exists in one but not in the other.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 5 points 4 days ago

From 14% to 44% in Canada between 2023 and 2026, that's particularly dramatic

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 9 points 5 days ago (1 children)

China might be an evil regime hell bent on silencing any form of dissent, but at least its a consistent one.

[–] arin@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (1 children)

And they produce solar panels that's allowing many small countries to use electricity in the oil crisis

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[–] TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 5 days ago

Right now China is the lesser evil of the two. Doesn't make China less bad than it was before.

I mean no surprise if you spend your time threatening your "allies" and fucking up the world, etc....

[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Sounds about right.

[–] HrabiaVulpes@europe.pub 3 points 5 days ago

I mean, the countries that absolutely hated Soviets still allied with them when Nazis became the problem. It's nothing new that "lesser evil" is seen more favorably than "dangerously deranged aggressive nazi at the helm of country full of nuclear weapons and no human willing to stop him"

[–] naught101@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago
[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Applauding the tanks here.

[–] TheVoiceOfRaison@thelemmy.club 2 points 5 days ago (3 children)

The country that executes circa 30,000 people a year looked upon more favourably than the "Land of the free". LOL.

[–] nednobbins@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 days ago

Do you have a source on that? It's about 3x the highest historical estimate I've seen.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (7 children)

“Land of the free”

🤡🤣🤣🤥

The country with the highest incarceration rate in the world.
Where you can get 20 years in prison for stealing bread to survive!
And people are killed in their homes by police, and in the streets by ICE! 🤢🤮

[–] TheVoiceOfRaison@thelemmy.club 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That's why its in quotation marks.

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Ok, TIL. Thank you.

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[–] icelimit@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 days ago

Well "land of the free" certainly isn't now, so

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