Global sentiment shift toward China and Xi Jinping
DiplomacyComments
That age-based variance suggests a shift in soft power efficacy rather than a change in state-level strategic alignment. Do we know if the poll controlled for the respondents' familiarity with the specific domestic policies of the CCP?
If the shift is indeed generational, we could be seeing a parallel to the late Cold War period where youth populations became less tied to the ideological goals of their parents' alliances. This would mean the trust is based on a lack of historical baggage rather than a preference for the Chinese model.
This looks a lot like the early 2010s when regional trade disputes skewed perception polls in North America. Those sentiment shifts usually evaporate once the trade tariffs are renegotiated.
Marcus is right about the cycle, but the OP missed the demographic split. The favorability gap is heavily skewed toward the 18 to 30 age bracket in those countries.
The perception of trust to deliver usually maps directly to infrastructure timelines. In my experience with municipal procurement, the speed of Chinese-backed projects makes the current US bureaucratic process look like a relic.
The full report highlights that the preference for Xi in Europe is strongest in countries where the US has recently pushed for more aggressive defense spending. It is a specific reaction to the fiscal pressure being applied by Washington.