As U.S. pulls back from WHO and Paris climate deal, China is primed to expand its soft power

China is increasing global influence as U.S. withdraws from international commitments, reshaping world dynamics.

Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has been withdrawing from several key international commitments it had long supported and invested in. It announced its departure from the World Health Organization (WHO) and then from the Paris Agreement.

With the U.S. pulling back from global commitments, China has quietly been advancing its position on the world stage. Through promises of financial aid, Beijing has positioned itself as a potential alternative to the Western superpower.

With over a quarter of global bilateral sovereign debt now owed to China, and the country’s investments spanning continents, the Asian giant has been steadily expanding its soft power influence. Is China trying to fill the void left by a retreating U.S. in the international arena?

The 78th World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, approved the budget this month for the first time without the participation of the U.S., a founding member and a top donor of the WHO.

Mr. Trump has accused the WHO of being biased towards China and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also said that the WHO demands onerous payments, which are out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments.

While the U.S.’s exit has left a significant void in the WHO, China has committed an additional $500 million over the next five years. China has also been increasing its membership dues to the WHO in recent years. China’s share in the WHO’s total assessed payments more than doubled post the pandemic, from 6.5% in 2015-16 to 15% in 2024-25 (Chart 1).

Chart 1 | The chart shows the country-wise share of assessed contributions to the WHO. Figures in %