In recent years, the shifting dynamics of global power have prompted longstanding U.S. allies to reconsider their strategic and economic partnerships, increasingly turning toward China as the United States adopts a more inward-focused approach under former President Donald Trump’s administration. This pivot is occurring amidst concerns about the fragility of the postwar rules-based international order, which Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described as "crumbling" earlier this year.

China has positioned itself as a potential leader on the world stage, emphasizing economic development, peace, and stability. At the Munich Security Conference in February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized the failures of the current international system, implicitly pointing to the United States’ role in fostering division and confrontation. China’s ambitious Five-Year Plan aims to reinforce its status as a global force, while the Belt and Road Initiative now extends to 150 countries. The country also dominates key sectors such as renewable energy—producing more solar panels than the rest of the world combined—and electric vehicles, accounting for two-thirds of global production.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to bolster China’s global image with high-profile commitments on social issues. At the 2025 Global Women’s Summit in Beijing, Xi pledged $10 million to UN Women and an additional $100 million through the South-South Cooperation Fund to support initiatives benefitting women and girls internationally. Despite these announcements, experts and activists question the sincerity of China’s commitment to human rights and gender equality.

Criticism underscores a gap between the leadership’s rhetoric and domestic realities. Human Rights Watch’s Maya Wang highlights that Beijing’s public pronouncements on social and economic rights often contrast sharply with government repression of independent women’s advocacy groups and censorship of gender equality discussions. Since Xi consolidated power in 2012, feminist activism has been curtailed, with activists such as the “Feminist Five” arrested in 2015 under charges of disturbing public order. Recent policy shifts, including Xi’s 2023 call for a return to “traditional” gender roles, signal a reassertion of conservative cultural norms over women’s rights. The current Politburo notably lacks female members for the first time since 1997.

Cases illustrating these challenges include the 2022 exposure of Xiao Huamei, who was found chained and abused in Jiangsu province, revealing the persistence of violence and discrimination, particularly in rural areas. Moreover, the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai in 2021 following sexual assault allegations against a former top official exemplifies the broader suppression of dissent and unresolved human rights concerns.

International response has been mixed. The Women’s Tennis Association initially suspended tournaments in China but resumed play two years later despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding Peng’s case. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts by countries such as Canada, including a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics, have been rebuffed by Beijing, which frames such actions as ideological interference.

While China’s economic rise and strategic initiatives reflect its preparedness to assert greater influence, its longstanding policy of non-interference in other states’ internal affairs and limited engagement on issues of political freedom and human rights may restrict its ability to assume comprehensive global leadership. Comparatively, the United States’ history of promoting values such as women’s participation in peace processes and addressing gender-based violence—despite its contradictions—has granted it a degree of international credibility.

Observers caution that diversifying trade and diplomatic relations to include China is pragmatic and necessary amid global uncertainty. However, engagement should be coupled with candid assessments of China’s human rights record rather than uncritical acceptance. Maintaining this balance will be central for countries like Canada as they navigate the evolving international landscape and China’s expanding role within it.