China’s Popularity Surpasses U.S. in Latin America

For the first time in Latin America, people view China’s global influence more positively than that of the United States. According to the 2026 Latinobarómetro survey, 65 percent of respondents rated China’s influence positively, compared to 57 percent for the United States. The survey, published on Friday, October 2, reveals that in 2020, 48 percent of people viewed China’s influence positively, a figure that has climbed to 65 percent over six years. In contrast, positive perceptions of U.S. influence fell from 60 percent to 57 percent over the same period.

Conducted across 17 countries, the survey showed that in all nations except Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, China’s influence was viewed more positively than that of the United States. However, viewing China’s influence more favorably does not mean the country has surpassed the U.S. in overall popularity. On a broader level, 63 percent of respondents expressed a positive view of the United States as a country, compared to 58 percent for China. In 2024, positive sentiment toward the U.S. stood at 73 percent.

The survey also gauged opinions on the detention of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. In every country except Argentina, a majority of respondents supported the operation. However, only 35 percent believed it benefited Venezuela, while 28 percent felt it caused harm. The 2026 survey involved face-to-face interviews with approximately 19,200 people across 17 countries between May 7 and June 17, carrying a margin of error of 1 percent.

Source: Al Jazeera.