**The US’s growing diplomatic isolation is a strategic opportunity for China**
**Introduction**
The United States has been increasingly isolated diplomatically in recent years. This is due to a number of factors, including the Trump administration’s withdrawal from international agreements, its imposition of tariffs on foreign goods, and its bellicose rhetoric towards other countries. China, on the other hand, has been expanding its diplomatic reach, signing new trade agreements, establishing new diplomatic missions, and increasing its participation in international organizations. As the US becomes more isolated, China is seizing the opportunity to expand its influence and reshape the global order.
**The US’s diplomatic isolation**
The US’s diplomatic isolation has been growing for a number of years. In 2018, the US withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement with 11 other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The US also withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, the US imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods, sparking a trade war between the two countries. The US has also been critical of the World Health Organization, accusing it of being biased towards China. In 2020, the US withdrew from the World Health Organization.
The US’s diplomatic isolation has been met with criticism from many countries around the world. The European Union, for example, has said that the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement is “a major setback for global efforts to combat climate change.” The United Nations has also criticized the US’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization.
**China’s diplomatic expansion**
While the US has been becoming more isolated diplomatically, China has been expanding its diplomatic reach. In 2018, China signed a trade agreement with the European Union, its largest trade partner. China has also established new diplomatic missions in a number of countries, including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati. China has also increased its participation in international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. In 2019, China became the world’s largest contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping budget.
China’s diplomatic expansion has been welcomed by many countries around the world. The European Union, for example, has said that the China-EU trade agreement is “a major step forward in our relations.” The United Nations has also praised China’s increased participation in international organizations.
**Implications for the global order**
The US’s growing diplomatic isolation and China’s expanding diplomatic reach are having a significant impact on the global order. The US is no longer the dominant power it once was, and China is playing an increasingly important role in global affairs. This is leading to a more multipolar world, with more countries having a say in how the world is governed. The US and China are likely to continue to compete for influence in the years to come, and the outcome of this competition will shape the future of the global order.
**Conclusion**
The US’s growing diplomatic isolation is a strategic opportunity for China. China is seizing the opportunity to expand its influence and reshape the global order. This is leading to a more multipolar world, with more countries having a say in how the world is governed. The US and China are likely to continue to compete for influence in the years to come, and the outcome of this competition will shape the future of the global order.
**Additional information**
– [The Trump administration’s foreign policy](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/trump-administrations-foreign-policy)
– [China’s Belt and Road Initiative](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-belt-and-road-initiative)
– [The future of the global order](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/future-global-order).
