Trump Policies Strengthen China, Survey Shows Global Shift

Published: 15 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

A recent global survey indicates that Trump policies are strengthening China more than America, shifting worldwide influence. Respondents from 21 countries suggest that the US president’s “America First” approach inadvertently aids China’s rise. Nearly 26,000 people across Europe, the US, China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, and South Korea participated. The findings highlight that Trump policies may be accelerating China’s strategic, economic, and technological growth, altering traditional alliances and global expectations.

The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and Oxford University’s Europe in a Changing World project carried out the survey. Results show that most respondents expect China’s influence to grow over the next decade, while the US is increasingly viewed as a distant and less reliable power. In South Africa and Russia, 85% and 86% respectively see China as an ally or necessary partner, with Brazil at 73%. In the UK, 50% expect China’s global influence to rise, while only 54% of Americans feel similarly.

European views of the United States have declined sharply. Only 16% now consider America a reliable ally, while 20% regard it as a rival or enemy. Meanwhile, support for rearmament in Europe grows, with 52% advocating increased defence spending in response to global uncertainty. The survey underscores that Trump policies may have unintentionally weakened traditional alliances and boosted China’s position.

Globally, China is increasingly perceived as a partner rather than a threat. Only respondents in Ukraine and South Korea consider China a significant adversary, whereas India, Brazil, and South Africa are strengthening ties with China. Europeans also see China as a rising power in renewable energy and electric vehicles. These findings suggest that Trump policies are indirectly helping China consolidate global influence.

Public opinion on Trump himself has shifted, with fewer people believing his re-election benefits the US or global stability. His interventions, including in Venezuela and Greenland, reinforce the perception that Trump prefers global fear over cooperation. Meanwhile, China’s image as a reliable global partner grows steadily, reflecting the impact of Trump policies on perceptions of power.

Russia’s view of Europe has changed amid the Ukraine conflict. Fifty-one percent of Russians now see the EU as an adversary, up from 41% last year, while the US is seen as less threatening. Ukrainians perceive Europe as a more dependable ally than the US, which is mirrored by changing views in China, where 61% see the US as a threat but only 19% view the EU similarly.

The report, authored by Ivan Krastev, Mark Leonard, and Timothy Garton Ash, highlights that China’s growing influence is recognised even by Americans. In China, 59% see the EU as a great power, with 46% considering it a partner. Only 46% of Europeans believe the EU can negotiate equally with the US or China, reflecting caution about Europe’s future role.

The survey concludes that Trump policies are helping China emerge as a stronger global actor while America’s credibility and influence face new challenges. European leaders are urged to adopt realism and strategic independence, finding new ways to assert themselves in a multipolar world. Otherwise, China’s rising influence may continue unchallenged, reinforcing global realignments shaped by Trump policies.

This survey demonstrates that, despite focusing on America, Trump policies are inadvertently empowering China across economic, technological, and diplomatic sectors. Public perception now increasingly sees China as the rising power, while America must contend with declining influence and shifting alliances.

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