Why China's Global Image Outshines the United States Amid Trump’s Turbulence

A Pew Research study finds China enjoying a more positive perception than the United States in about 30 of 36 countries, even among long-standing partners like the United Kingdom. The author argues this advantage stems from China’s systematic public-relations approach, built on making its manufacturing and tech sectors indispensable, expanding influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, and dominating critical resource markets.

Meanwhile, the United States is depicted as suffering from a chaotic domestic scene, where the president’s frequent falsehoods are publicly ridiculed and political infighting is amplified worldwide. The article points out that only a few nations—Japan, South Korea, India and the Philippines—still view the U.S. more favorably, likely because of their proximity to Chinese power. To counter Beijing’s narrative, the writer calls for a comprehensive crisis-communication strategy targeting American travelers, immigrants and global audiences, and proposes creating a network of third-party advocates to improve the nation’s image. The piece concludes that superficial gestures will not suffice; a sustained, decades-long effort is required to match China’s PR machinery.