In the highly competitive arena of global diplomacy, it is Beijing that now stands atop the podium.
China has overtaken the United States and now possesses the largest diplomatic network in the world, while Japan has quietly beefed up its global presence amid Beijing's rise, a new study showed Wednesday.
The 2019 Global Diplomacy Index, released by Australia's Lowy Institute think tank, mapped the size and reach of 61 diplomatic networks around the world by embassies, consulates, permanent missions and other diplomatic posts, tracking all Group of 20 countries, all OECD nations and most Asian countries.