CIO Summary

• Sovereign-level “China maxxing” emerging. Gallup and Pew data show rising global approval of China at a time when confidence in US leadership is wavering. This creates space for governments – not just consumers – to reassess their geopolitical alignments.
   
• Not necessarily pivoting to Beijing, yet US loss could be China’s gain. Political distancing from the US does not imply automatic alignment with China. Instead, governments are widening their strategic options, especially amid tensions over tariffs, NATO burden‑sharing, and Iran.
   
• From China bashing to pragmatic engagement. A surge in recent diplomatic visits to Beijing, coupled with China’s role as a key manufacturing, technology, and trade partner, signals a shift from overt “China‑bashing” toward more balanced, interest‑driven engagement.

China Tops US in Leadership Approval

Source: Gallup (April 2026).

We recently introduced the concept of “China maxxing,” a growing subculture of young Westerners adopting Chinese lifestyles and products for self-improvement. How will this trend extend beyond consumption and social media to broader global reach and even political influence? Below is a selection of articles on this topic, along with our key takeaways. We hope you find them useful.

• China approval ratings rising. China's global leadership approval has risen to 36%, overtaking the US at 31% for the third time in two decades, according to Gallup's latest survey. Pew Research also found favourable views of China rising in 15 of 25 countries surveyed, including Canada, France and Italy. Such upticks usually coincide with periods of heightened uncertainty over US leadership.
   
• US unpredictability driving strategic diversification. Tensions between Washington and its traditional allies over tariffs, NATO burden-sharing and the Iran conflict have prompted more countries to reduce their US reliance. This creates conditions for China to become an option for strategic diversification. For example, the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore featured pushback against the US-centric framework and greater emphasis on regional security by Asian nations. While there was no direct pivot to Beijing, US loss may already be China's gain.
   
• A sharp pickup in diplomatic engagements with China. Beijing has hosted 26 visiting leaders and senior officials from 23 countries to date in 2026, including delegations from the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Spain, Russia and Singapore, underscoring China’s growing diplomatic weight and its appeal as an economic and strategic partner.
   
• Economic stability remains a key attraction. Many visiting governments are seeking investment, market access, manufacturing partnerships, technology cooperation and infrastructure opportunities, reinforcing China's position as an increasingly important economic anchor amid a more uncertain global environment.

Our Take

We are not geopolitical experts, but there seems to be an emerging ‘China‑maxxing’ trend among world governments – similar to the original consumer version. Granted, political distancing from the US does not automatically translate into alignment with China. However, it is clear that many Western countries are moving from overt “China‑bashing” toward more pragmatic engagement, driven by economic needs and strategic diversification. In this regard, President Trump serves as a key wake-up call that US diplomacy missteps and political uncertainty can have major consequences for countries that rely solely on Washington. 

Stay tuned for Part III of this series, where we will dive into the investment implications.
 

Every world leader who has visited China in 2026 in one chart.

Source: Aljazeera.