A survey conducted in 17 Latin American countries has found that China's influence in the region is now viewed more positively than that of the United States. The survey, carried out by the Latinobarometro foundation, showed that 65% of respondents considered China's influence to be positive, compared to 57% for the US. This marks a significant shift in perception, with China surpassing the US in this regard for the first time since the survey began in 1995.
The survey, which involved around 19,200 interviews, was conducted between May 7 and June 17. It found that Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only two countries in the region where the US influence was viewed more positively than China's. The survey's results suggest that China's growing economic presence in the region has contributed to its increasing popularity. China has been actively engaging with Latin American countries, offering them access to cheaper imports and investments.
The Latinobarometro foundation is a non-profit organization based in Chile that conducts surveys on a wide range of issues, including democracy, economy, security, and migration. The foundation's director, Marta Lagos, attributed the shift in perception to the US's relative absence from the region over the past two decades. She noted that the US had been largely absent from the region since the Iraq war in 2003, allowing other powers such as China, the European Union, and Japan to fill the vacuum.
The survey also found that the US still enjoys a higher overall popularity rating than China, with 63% of respondents viewing the US positively, compared to 58% for China. However, the US rating has declined significantly since 2024, when it stood at 73%. The survey also revealed that a majority of respondents in all countries, except Argentina, supported the US's arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a special forces operation.
The survey's findings have significant implications for the US and China's influence in the region. The US has been trying to reassert its dominance in Latin America, with President Donald Trump announcing plans to revive the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy that called for European powers to refrain from intervening in the Western Hemisphere. However, the survey suggests that China's influence is growing, and that the US will need to adapt to a changing landscape in the region.
China's growing influence in Latin America is also driven by its economic presence. China has become one of the region's largest trading partners, and has invested heavily in infrastructure projects and other sectors. The survey found that many respondents in the region view China's influence as positive, citing the benefits of cheaper imports and increased economic opportunities.
The survey's results are based on a large sample size and have a margin of error of 1%. They provide valuable insights into the shifting perceptions of US and Chinese influence in Latin America. As the US and China continue to vie for influence in the region, the survey's findings suggest that China is making significant inroads.
Key points
- China's influence in Latin America is now viewed more positively than that of the US.
- The survey found that 65% of respondents considered China's influence to be positive, compared to 57% for the US.
- The US still enjoys a higher overall popularity rating than China, but its rating has declined significantly since 2024.
