China is now seen more positively than the United States in most of the countries for the first time, according to a Pew Research Centre survey published in July. The Afrobarometer, published in August, also reveals that African respondents’ views of the United States have become more negative over the past five years, whilst China’s popularity has remained steady. This is evident in the report despite the fact that the vast majority of the survey data was collected before President Donald Trump began his second term.
In the 38 African countries surveyed, 62% of respondents view China’s influence in their own country as positive, while 17% view it as negative. 52% of respondents view the United States’ influence as positive, while 20% view it as negative. The EU, however, did not fare any better: its figures are 50% and 17%, and the proportion of those who are unsure is higher for the EU.
Not surprisingly, Africans are interested in which foreign powers treat them fairly and bring them benefits.
The Afrobarometer also shows that African respondents do not want to take sides between the major powers. Attitudes toward different major powers are positively correlated: those who view China positively are also more likely to view the United States in a favourable light. Not surprisingly, Africans are interested in which foreign powers treat them fairly, bring them benefits, and support their countries’ own interests.
China’s cultural and political soft power
Authoritarian China stands out as the most popular alternative in various studies. What should we make of this? Yanzhong Huang, an expert on Chinese health politics and U.S.-China relations at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes that China has finally succeeded in exercising soft power, as the West has seen a “Chinamaxxing” phenomenon – the idealisation of the Chinese lifestyle and related products on social media. On the other hand, China’s example of achieving economic growth and technological leadership is intriguing for many, and as the United States is burning bridges with its traditional partners, China has begun to appear as the “sensible adult” and a reliable trading partner in the eyes of European governments as well.
A report published by Demo Finland and the European Democracy Hub in early 2026 states that, alongside its well-known infrastructure projects, China is devoting a lot of resources to, for example, political-party diplomacy and media support in the global south. These have traditionally been areas of strength for the EU, but the EU is now shifting the focus of its development co-operation toward infrastructure development and reducing support for democracy and civil society sectors.
Jyrki Kallio, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said in an interview with the Finnish media Uusi Juttu in August that China is not actively seeking to change the governance systems of other countries. Demo Finland and the European Democracy Hub’s report emphasises that China’s influence may nonetheless have a negative impact on democracy and accelerate authoritarian trends. China’s primary goal is to expand the number of countries sympathetic to it, but in doing so, it normalises autocracy as a form of government. It also seeks to reshape perceptions of the international system, for example by promoting the diversity of nations and cultures as an alternative to the universality of human rights and democratic values.
China’s co-operation with African political parties ranges from high-level meetings to study tours organised in China, as well as funding for political party schools located in Africa. Whereas in the early 2000s the Chinese communist party (CCP) spoke of mutual learning, since 2014 it has mainly reported that its partners are interested in learning from the CCP.
China’s primary goal is to expand the number of countries sympathetic to it, but in doing so, it normalises autocracy as a form of government.
China oppresses its own citizens, carries out infrastructure projects in the global south that lead to debt dependency, and exports surveillance technology that fits the needs of autocrats around the world. Yet China has a more positive image in Africa than the US and the EU. If China’s authoritarian model becomes the norm and an object of admiration, it could have far-reaching consequences. Further autocratisation around the world also means more conflicts and instability. The Global State of Democracy 2026 report by International IDEA emphasises that democratic consolidation strengthens security. However, the quality of democracy also matters. It is clear, nonetheless, that democratic erosion is part of the path leading to violent conflict.
The question is: What will the EU and its member states do? Will they follow China’s example, or will they build partnerships based on equality while defending democracy and human rights?
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The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Demo Finland.