Even as Donald Trump has pulled the United States inward under his "America First" presidency, China has had only halting success at capitalizing on a global leadership vacuum, presenting openings for a more internationalist Joe Biden administration if he wins next month's election.
Under Trump, Washington abandoned the Paris climate pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the U.N. Human Rights Council and UNESCO, and ditched the Iran nuclear deal.
It has announced that it will withdraw from the World Health Organization next July, and has crippled the World Trade Organization by blocking appointments to its appeals panel.