China is struggling to convert the strategic vacuum created by US trade and military missteps into tangible geopolitical gains, according to economist George Magnus.
Despite heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, as well as ongoing instability in the Middle East, Beijing has failed to effectively expand its influence in key markets.
Magnus argues that while the US faces internal and external challenges, China lacks the economic and diplomatic leverage to seize the initiative.
This assessment comes as China recently imposed sanctions on approximately ten US companies, escalating economic tensions between the world's two largest economies.
However, these measures have not translated into broader strategic advantages for Beijing.
The inability to capitalize on US weaknesses is mirrored in the energy sector, where US oil producers are also failing to seize market share from the Persian Gulf despite persistent geopolitical friction in the Strait of Hormuz.