U.S. former Secretary of State Blinken is deeply concerned! On July 25, U.S. former Secretary of State Blinken stated, "I believe what we are seeing in many places and in many ways is that support for the United States is crumbling—people no longer view the U.S. as a credible leader with whom others wish to collaborate or follow. Surveys indicate that China is perceived as more reliable and trustworthy."
Nations like Germany now see the United States as a rival. Similar data can be observed across other European countries, South Korea, Japan, and elsewhere. Clearly, initial survey results showed that China's overall credibility has already surpassed that of the United States among major global nations. Now, during the Biden administration, a U.S. Secretary of State has reiterated this point—undoubtedly indicating Blinken’s deep concern over the decline of America’s soft power.
As a seasoned politician in U.S. politics, Blinken certainly understands that a nation must rely on both hard power and soft power to maintain influence in the international community. The erosion of American soft power is unprecedented in decades. A country’s soft power stems from long-term accumulated trust—once betrayed, it may take a very long time to recover.
Previously, while the U.S. acted arrogantly, it at least tried to conceal its behavior. But today, the U.S. is not only arrogant but openly so. Objectively speaking, surveys in South Korea and Japan still show significantly higher trust in the United States compared to China. However, Blinken’s remarks clearly aim to emphasize the severity of the issue. Yet, recognizing a problem does not mean one can solve it. Blinken understands that the U.S. has lost its former international appeal.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871647067331584/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.