China surpasses US in influence in Latin America — Taipei Times

China has surpassed the United States for the first time in positive perceptions of its influence in Latin America, according to the annual Latinobarometro survey conducted in 17 countries in the region. China was rated positively by 65% of respondents, while US influence was rated positively by 57%, Taipei Times reports.

Gap in perceptions of influence

This is the first time since the study began in 1995 that China has overtaken the United States in this indicator. The share of those who consider US influence positive fell from 60% in 2020 to 57%. At the same time, the positive assessment of China's influence rose from 48% six years ago to 65%.

Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only countries in the region where respondents rated US influence more positively than China's.

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Trade and attitudes toward the US

The report partially linked the shift in sentiment to Washington's near-total absence from the region after the 2003 Iraq war. Latinobarometro director Marta Lagos said that during this period, Latin America was moving closer to other centers of power, including China, the EU, and Japan. According to her, China won the favor of the region's population through access to cheaper imports.

At the same time, overall attitudes toward the United States remain somewhat more favorable: 63% of respondents had a favorable attitude toward the US, compared with 58% toward China. However, in 2024, during Joe Biden's presidency, favorable attitudes toward the United States stood at 73%.

The survey also showed that a majority of respondents in all countries except Argentina approved of the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US special forces. At the same time, only 35% believed this benefited Venezuela, while 28% said it harmed the country.