{
  "id": 7552106,
  "title": "The world is not so much embracing China as recoiling from Trump’s US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/the-world-is-not-so-much-embracing-china-as-recoiling-from-trumps-us",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T12:30:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3367044/world-not-so-much-embracing-china-recoiling-trumps-us"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent global surveys reveal an intriguing shift in public sentiment: China is now more popular than the United States in most countries. This change is attributed to the erosion of trust in America under the Trump administration, as evidenced by two major summits – the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and the Group of 20 (G20) in the US. Both events highlighted the mounting criticism of US policies that have destabilized global commerce, violated international law, and alienated even Washington's closest partners.\n\nAt the SCO summit, a joint declaration condemned military strikes on Iran, which resulted in civilian casualties and significant economic damage, asserting that these actions violate international law and pose risks to global peace and stability. Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others, signed the statement, presenting a direct challenge to the US's longstanding practice of using economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool.\n\nThe G20 meeting, ostensibly promoting US economic policies, saw European allies use the platform to express displeasure over American unilateralism. German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil pointed out that America's tariff conflicts, particularly with Canada, were eroding trust in global trade and harming everyone involved. European leaders also raised concerns about the ongoing war in Iran disrupting trade through vital maritime routes, which in turn impacts global supply chains, energy markets, and financial markets.\n\nA Pew Research Centre survey found that 75% of respondents in 17 middle-income countries believe the US interferes in other countries' affairs, while only 45% share the same sentiment about China. In middle-income countries, perceptions of China as a reliable partner have strengthened, while America is increasingly seen as an interferer pursuing narrow interests. This stark contrast illustrates the damage done to the US's global credibility under Trump, including unilateral withdrawals from agreements, imposition of tariffs on allies, military adventurism in Iran, and transactional diplomacy.\n\nThe International Monetary Fund has noted that the administration's war in Iran has slowed global economic growth, while German economists claim Trump's war and tariffs on Europe dampened what would have been the strongest year of German growth since 2022. Soft power, which derives from credibility, needs solid foundations to enhance China's appeal on its own, not relative to Washington. This suggests the current moment may represent a temporary reordering, and Beijing has much work to do to regain lost trust.\n\nWhile American institutions may yet revive lost credibility by returning to predictability, respect for international law, and genuine multilateral engagement, the unpredictability of the US remains a significant source of concern. The world has recoiled from an unreliable and belligerent America that flouts international law and norms it once championed. Beijing must work to build up its own trustworthiness and credibility to win hearts and minds.",
  "summary": "Global surveys show China is now more popular than the United States in most countries. The reality is China hasn’t become more popular, only that Uncle Sam has become odious. Two recent major summits demonstrate precisely why this erosion has occurred. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and the Group of 20 (G20) gathering in the US, the Trump…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "The world is not so much embracing China as recoiling from Trump’s US",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/the-world-is-not-so-much-embracing-china-as-recoiling-from-trumps-us-7552750",
        "published": "2026-09-15T12:30:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}