China lays claim to global helm as U.S. withdraws
UNITED NATIONS — Days after President Trump denounced globalism at the United Nations, China positioned itself Friday as a “champion of multilateralism” that is keeping international promises when Washington is backing away from them.
Although Foreign Minister Wang Yi denied his country was trying to eclipse the U.S. as a world leader, his speech at the U.N. General Assembly was a stark contrast to Trump’s “America First” message. It came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China, which Trump accused this week of interfering in the upcoming U.S. midterm election. China denies the claim.