53% of Americans now view China favorably, a Gallup poll finds.
This is the first time this figure has risen above 50% in almost 30 years.
China's favorability rating amongst Americans saw a marked increase over the past two years, In 2017, it rose to 50% from 44% during 2016 and 2015.
Only twice in the past 40 years have the majority of Americans viewed China positively. In 1979, after the US established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, the figure rose to 64%. In early 1989, right after President George H. W. Bush's trip to China, this number reached 72%.
However, after the Tiananmen incident on 4th June that year, this figure dropped precipitously to 34%.
China is also markedly more popular amongst Democratic voters than Republican voters: whilst 59% of the former view China positively, only 42% of the latter do. Younger Americans also like China more, with 67% of those aged 18 to 34 holding a favorable view, compared with 54% of those 35 to 54 and 39% of those 55 and older.