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US power advantage over China declines in wake of coronavirus pandemic: Lowy Institute
- America still on top of Asia power index, but drops in economic capability and diplomatic influence narrow gap with mainland
- Report sees US and Japan taking until 2024 and 2027, respectively, to recover to 2019 levels of economic activity
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The United States’ handling of Covid-19 has accelerated its declining power advantage over China, according to a new index of power in Asia, with the gap between the superpowers halving since 2018.
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While retaining the top spot in the region, the US saw its relative power drop the most of any country in 2020, according to the annual index produced by the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank.
The US scored 81.6 in the index, a drop of three points from the previous year, with its position declining in all but one of eight measures of power.
The 2020 index, which is in its third year, ranked 26 countries in the region using 128 indicators across eight categories: economic resources and relationships, military capability and defence networks, diplomatic and cultural influence, and resilience and future resources.
The US registered the sharpest declines in economic relationships, economic capability and diplomatic influence, with its reputation taking a greater hit due to the pandemic than any other country. About 220,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 so far, accounting for more than one-fifth of the official global death toll.
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