China’s Small and Mid-Sized State Diplomacy Takes on New Importance in the Trump Era

Wang met with counterparts from Africa, Asia, and South America during his brief stopover at the United Nations on February 18, 2025. Images via Xinhua.

China’s longstanding emphasis on small-state diplomacy was on full display on Tuesday when Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Somalia, Uganda, Pakistan, and Bolivia.

While this kind of “speed dating diplomacy” is typical for Wang, this particular round of bilateral gatherings had a different feel to them given the current turbulence in the international system brought about by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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by Eric Olander

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