Editor's note: Hamzah Rifaat Hussain, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a senior expert at Initiate Futures, a global policy think tank. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The year 2026 has brought stark contrasts for both China and the United States. The latter witnessed an array of challenges contributing to policy failures under the Trump administration, whether it is nationwide anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protests over extrajudicial killings in over 300 cities across the country or inadequate disaster responses to devastating winter storms claiming more than 100 lives. The United States is witnessing significant turmoil, polarization and authoritarianism. 

Evidence in early 2026 suggests that while the U.S. is suffering from a credibility crisis abroad amid social fragmentation at home, China has emerged as strategically sound with meaningful international engagements complementing its advocacy for stable governance.

A fractured and polarized United States

The start of 2026 has brought an array of existential crises for the United States. The controversial and heavy-handed tactics of the ICE, including fatal enforcement actions resulting in the deaths of two citizens, prompted nationwide protests spiraling out of control.

The variegated nature of the crisis involving shutdowns and student walkouts reflects a breakdown in the social contract between American citizens and the government. The scale of agitation in the U.S. also suggests that citizens consider actual democratic public policy-making to be compromised or unresponsive to community needs. As a result, the Trump administration confronts deeply entrenched grievances and citizen disillusionment over civil rights, human rights, the right to dignity and respect.

Yet instead of addressing public concerns, the U.S. is engaged in budget standoffs, with Democrats opposing funding for the Department of Homeland Security over ICE's excessive tactics amid Republican resistance. This pushed Washington, D.C. towards partial government shutdown conditions amid legislative inertia and governance paralysis.

Yet ICE and its political paralysis are just one side of the story. The start of 2026 under the Trump administration has witnessed the disclosure of 3.5 million pages worth of the Epstein files under the Epstein Files Transparency Act by the U.S. Department of Justice, triggering a countrywide debate on accountability and prosecutions. While the disclosures detailed complicity, pages were redacted, resulting in deepening public distrust of institutions and the dispensation of justice.

In fact, the Epstein crisis underlines America's inability to manage anti-government public sentiment. Such sentiment is further amplified by America's exceptionally poor disaster preparedness. The 2026 winter storm resulted in over 100 deaths, over a million households losing electricity and state governors announcing emergencies. The prioritization of detaining and deporting immigrants under ICE, however, contrasts with the Trump administration's lack of coordination and operational preparedness regarding the provision of healthcare to victims and the clearance of snow.

These multiple crises reveal a troubling pattern of public skepticism, erosion of trust in institutions and a lack of public policy-making in the United States. They reveal a country that has failed to come up with holistic, inclusive and unifying responses to existential challenges.

Stable governance and meaningful engagement

China, on the other hand, presents a markedly different story. With Washington witnessing internal fissures and the antagonization of its allies over tariffs and the potential annexation of Greenland, Beijing has steadily developed meaningful diplomatic relations with countries across continents. According to official readouts, these engagements resulted in understandings that included upholding a rules-based international trading system, achieving domestic prosperity and advancing development goals. 

Take French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Beijing late last year as an example, during which multiple agreements on nuclear energy cooperation, educational exchanges and ecological protection were reached. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit on January 4 also resulted in joint understandings to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence and green industries.

China has also hosted a series of visits since then, including the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Canadian Premier Mark Carney, the Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, reflecting strategic consistency in the absence of confrontation. Joint statements issued emphasized support for the United Nations, the WTO and reforms for inclusive financial systems, which have resonated with a growing number of nations seeking stability.

In light of this, evidence from the start of 2026 reveals contrasting approaches to domestic order and world peace from China and the United States. While Washington is witnessing domestic turmoil, governance shortcomings and institutional decay amid policies vacillating between provocations and unilateral measures, China's openness, emphasis on mutually beneficial cooperation and the prosperity of populations underlines global stability.

Beijing's drive is to leverage its domestic stability to ensure that global partners can navigate through tumultuous times with confidence. This is in contrast to the U.S., where leadership vacuums are denting its credibility both domestically and internationally.

As a result, the ongoing turmoil in the U.S. can be contrasted with China's diplomatic stability, providing a realistic depiction of different governance outlooks and results. What is clear is that in a volatile global landscape, countries are seeking stability, solutions and predictability.

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