A striking shift in Canadian public opinion has emerged as new polling data reveals that more citizens north of the border now hold favorable views of China compared to the United States. The findings come as Donald Trump approaches the halfway mark of his second presidential term, marking a significant change from just one year ago when Canadians viewed both nations equally.
Poll Numbers Show Dramatic Shift in Canadian Sentiment
According to recent research conducted by the Pew Research Center, 44 percent of Canadian respondents expressed a favorable view of China, while only 33 percent said the same about their southern neighbor. This represents a notable reversal in sentiment, particularly given the complex history between Canada and China in recent years.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,020 Canadians via telephone between February 8 and May 13, examined various aspects of international relations including foreign policy positions, evaluations of national leaders, and perceptions about personal freedoms in each country.
“During the first two years of Trump’s second term, ratings of the U.S. president worsened significantly. While many people still lack confidence in Xi Jinping, positive views of him have become more widespread, and more overall now say they have confidence in Xi than in Trump,” the Pew Research Center stated in its findings.
Canada’s Complicated Relationship with Beijing
The polling results are particularly noteworthy given the turbulent diplomatic history between Ottawa and Beijing. Canada has been part of international efforts to condemn China over human rights violations against the Uyghur population, a predominantly Muslim minority group in the Xinjiang region. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that approximately one million Uyghurs were being held in what officials described as massive internment facilities.
Key tensions between Canada and China have included:
- The arbitrary detention of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig for nearly three years
- Sanctions imposed on four Chinese officials and one entity by Canada in March 2021
- The execution of four Canadian citizens in early 2025 on drug-related charges
- The ongoing case of Robert Schellenberg from Abbotsford, British Columbia, who has remained on death row in China since 2019
At the time of Spavor and Kovrig’s release in September 2021, Global Affairs Canada reported that 115 Canadians remained in custody in Chinese prisons.
Warming Relations Under Prime Minister Carney
Despite these serious diplomatic incidents, Prime Minister Mark Carney has pursued a strategy of engagement with Beijing since taking office. His government has faced criticism for warming relations with China, though officials maintain that increased trade and diplomatic dialogue serve Canadian interests.
The federal government publicly condemned the executions of Canadian citizens in early 2025, yet the Carney administration has continued making repeated outreaches to Chinese leadership in an effort to normalize bilateral relations and expand commercial ties between the two nations.
Global Trend Extends Beyond Canadian Borders
Canada is not alone in this shift of perception. The Pew Research poll indicates that China is now viewed more positively than the United States in the majority of the 36 countries surveyed worldwide. This represents a significant change in global public opinion regarding the two superpowers.
However, the United States maintains more favorable ratings than China in six countries, with four of those located in the Asia-Pacific region:
- India
- Japan
- The Philippines
- Additional Asia-Pacific nations
The findings suggest that Trump’s second term has had a measurable impact on how America is perceived internationally, with confidence in U.S. leadership declining across numerous allied nations. For the Latin community in Canada, these shifting diplomatic dynamics may have implications for trade, immigration policies, and the broader geopolitical landscape affecting life in the country.
