Pandemic Cuts America's Lead Over China as Most Powerful Nation in Asia
- U.S. 'lost prestige' due to its poor response to pandemic
- India projected to reach just 40% of China's output by 2030
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to China's President Xi Jinping during a business leaders event in November 2017.
Photographer: AFP
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China is closing in on the U.S. as the most powerful country influencing the Asia-Pacific, as America’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic tarnishes its reputation, a study showed.
While America retained its place as the region’s top superpower, its 10-point lead on China two years ago has been halved, according to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index for 2020, which ranks 26 nations and territories.