Editor's note: Alexander Clackson is the founder of the Global Political Research Center in London, a government advisor, political analyst, and a researcher at the University of Lancaster, UK. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

With China and the United States holding trade consultations in Paris, the strategic competition between them is in the global limelight again – in terms of their economic growth, innovative technology, cultural development and military capabilities.  

One dimension of this rivalry is becoming increasingly significant: Global perception. According to recent results from The POLITICO Poll, "the 21st century is more likely to belong to Beijing than to Washington – at least that's the view from four key US allies. Swaths of the public in Canada, Germany, France and the UK have soured on the US, driven by President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions. Respondents in these countries increasingly see China as a more dependable partner than the US and believe the Asian economic colossus is leading on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence."

Across much of the developing world, perceptions of international leadership are evolving. In many regions of Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and parts of the Middle East, China is increasingly viewed as a central economic partner and a stable diplomatic actor. This shift does not necessarily reflect hostility toward the United States. Rather, it reflects a broader transformation in how countries assess international partnerships in an emerging multipolar system.

Many states in the Global South prioritize flexibility and strategic autonomy. Their foreign policy choices tend to be pragmatic rather than ideological. Governments increasingly evaluate international partners based on economic opportunity, infrastructure development, predictability and long-term benefit.

Surveys conducted across multiple regions indicate that global views of China have improved in recent years while perceptions of the United States have become more mixed. In parts of Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, China is now seen by many as an economic leader on par with, or in some cases ahead of, the United States. China's position in recent global soft power rankings has also strengthened, reflecting growing cultural, economic and diplomatic visibility.

Southeast Asia provides a clear illustration of this evolving landscape. The region remains central to the broader strategic competition between major powers. Surveys conducted by Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute show that while a narrow majority of respondents still prefer the United States when asked to choose between the two powers, China trails by only a few percentage points.  

The most important takeaway is not which country leads in the poll, but how narrow the margin has become. The assumption that American leadership is automatically preferred in the region is gradually fading.

Africa presents a similar pattern. Afrobarometer surveys show that in many African countries, majorities view China's influence positively. Large-scale infrastructure investments, development financing and long-term economic engagement have contributed to a perception that China is a reliable partner in national development strategies. Railways, ports, energy projects and digital infrastructure initiatives provide tangible examples of cooperation that resonate strongly with governments seeking rapid economic growth.

Latin America's response has been more varied, but the overall trajectory is clear. China has become the largest trading partner for several major South American economies and continues to expand its economic footprint across the region. These economic ties increasingly shape diplomatic positioning. When geopolitical tensions arise, many governments prefer to maintain balanced relations rather than align closely with any single power.

In the Middle East, perceptions are influenced by a complex mix of historical experience and current political developments. Ongoing regional conflicts and debates over international law have reinforced long-standing sensitivities regarding sovereignty and external intervention. Within this context, China's emphasis on non-interference and respect for national sovereignty resonates with many governments in the region.

China's diplomatic messaging consistently highlights several principles: respect for sovereignty, non-interference in domestic affairs and economic cooperation without political conditionality. These themes align with the priorities of many developing countries that are wary of external pressure regarding domestic governance choices. Beijing has also framed its global engagement through concepts such as development partnerships and South-South cooperation, emphasizing shared economic progress rather than ideological alignment.

Economic engagement plays a particularly important role in shaping these perceptions. Over the past two decades, China has expanded trade relationships, infrastructure financing and investment flows across much of the developing world. Initiatives aimed at improving connectivity, logistics and energy infrastructure have strengthened economic integration between China and many emerging markets. As trade relationships deepen and supply chains become more interconnected, political cooperation often follows.

This evolving perception landscape has broader strategic implications. In an increasingly multipolar world, influence is not determined solely by military strength or economic size. It is also shaped by the ability to build networks of cooperation and diplomatic support across regions. Countries that are perceived as reliable partners tend to gain greater flexibility in shaping international agendas.

The United States continues to possess enormous structural advantages, including unmatched military capabilities, long-standing alliances and the central role of the dollar in global finance. These factors remain pillars of its international influence. Yet, global leadership today also depends on credibility, predictability and trust among a wide range of partners.

For many states outside the traditional Western alliance system, the priority is not choosing between competing powers but preserving policy autonomy. Governments increasingly seek to diversify partnerships rather than align exclusively with one geopolitical bloc. This trend reflects the broader emergence of a multipolar international order in which influence is distributed among several major actors.

Within this environment, China's growing economic presence and diplomatic messaging have allowed it to narrow what was once a much larger perception gap with the United States. The shift has been gradual rather than dramatic, but over time incremental changes in perception can reshape the strategic landscape.

Great powers rarely lose or gain influence suddenly. More often, the balance evolves slowly as countries reassess which partners appear most predictable, economically beneficial and politically respectful of sovereignty. As global power dynamics continue to evolve, perceptions will remain an important component of international competition – shaping not only how states interpret geopolitical events, but also how they position themselves within the emerging multipolar order.

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