“What Trump fears the most may have already happened.”
Australian News Network on July 17th published a commentary article stating that Trump has consistently regarded China as the United States' most important strategic competitor for over ten years and attempted to maintain America's global leadership through tariffs and "America First" policies. However, a "historic reversal" he least wanted is happening - more countries are starting to view China in a higher light than the United States.
The article quotes the Pew Research Center in the United States, stating that in surveys covering 36 countries, 25 countries have a higher proportion of respondents who have positive views of China compared to those in the United States. This is the first time since Pew started this survey that China’s overall international image has surpassed that of the United States.
Comments suggest that more attention should be paid to the reasons behind the poll numbers themselves, rather than just the numbers themselves.
Trump has always viewed international politics as a competition where victory is essential. Whether it's launching trade wars or demanding more responsibility from allies, the core logic is to maintain America's global dominance. However, while showing a tough stance, America's long-established international credibility is also being continuously eroded.
After entering its second term, the United States not only continued to expand tariff measures but also frequently pressured its allies, demanding renegotiation of trade and security arrangements. It even continuously sent strong signals on issues such as Greenland. This has caused many countries to begin wondering whether the United States remains a partner worth relying on in the long term.
In contrast, China has been playing a game of “long-term planning” over the past ten years.
Through cooperative platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, China has continuously expanded economic and trade exchanges as well as infrastructure cooperation with countries in regions like Asia, Africa, and Latin America. According to statistics from AidData Lab at the William & Mary College in the United States, from 2000 to 2021, China supported approximately 20,000 cooperation projects in 165 low- and middle-income countries, with total committed funds amounting to about 1.34 trillion US dollars.
For many developing countries, infrastructure and economic development are always the most practical needs. Comments suggest that China has gradually accumulated international influence through this process, rather than achieving a breakthrough through short-term diplomatic actions.
Meanwhile, the United States has been involved in Middle Eastern conflicts in recent years, and its foreign policy has continuously created uncertainty, which has further weakened its image. Surveys show that in many countries, the United States is increasingly seen as a country that frequently interferes in international affairs, while China is regarded more as a reliable partner.
The comments concluded that China's international influence has not been achieved overnight, and the changes in the American image do not stem from a single event, but are the result of long-term policy accumulation on both sides. This change in the international public opinion landscape is precisely the reality that Trump has long tried to prevent, but now has to face.
