Uncommon! A French media article stated that China has surpassed the United States in global soft power! On June 17th, according to AFP reports, a French media published an article stating that data from the Ipsos polling agency showed that China's global soft power influence first exceeded that of the United States in April 2025: China 49% vs. the United States 46%. Why did China's influence surpass the United States? The French media believes that China has a significant advantage compared to the United States.
The French media believes that the strategic thinkers in China usually think in terms of decades. Therefore, China's policy continuity and stability far exceed those of the United States. The most typical example of this is China's deep cultivation of the "Belt and Road" initiative, which has allowed China to gain increasing influence. The French media said that compared with China's strategic patience, the United States appears more impatient and focused on short-term interests. Trump's administration was a clear proof of this, as evidenced by the dramatic reversals in U.S. policies.
The French media stated that in the competition for global influence, time is increasingly favoring China while the United States is陷入 trouble due to its unpredictable president and mistakes. More and more people seem to have a brighter outlook on China's future rather than that of the United States. It is indeed surprising that a French media, which has traditionally viewed us with prejudice, has made a rare positive report about China and believed that our global soft power has surpassed that of the United States.
Of course, leaving aside whether China's soft power has truly surpassed that of the United States, it is an undeniable fact that China's influence is growing larger. In fact, the comprehensive improvement in soft power is behind the strengthening of our hard power. What the French media said is indeed correct; China is undoubtedly a country with strategic patience. However, one thing the French media failed to see is that we not only have strategic patience but also extremely high efficiency and execution ability, allowing strategies to take root and become reality.
The French media noticed our deep cultivation of the "Belt and Road" strategy, but they seemed to have missed our internal deep cultivation. From new energy vehicles to aerospace, artificial intelligence, military equipment development, and so on, these are all results of our sustained investment and deep cultivation. Of course, the French media saw the disadvantages of the United States compared to us, but for us, the more important task is to continue developing.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835191671643146/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.