Is China challenging US leadership?

Editor's note: While a Gallup poll result on Thursday showed global support for China's leadership was higher than that of the United States in 2017, a Chinese scholar sparked controversy by declaring China has surpassed the US in all major aspects. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow:

Important to view poll result objectively

The Gallup survey result reflects China's development as well as the US' waning reputation. But that does not necessarily mean China has surpassed the US in real power.
China has gained in national strength and has been playing a greater global leadership role over the past five years, promoting globalization and free trade.
But it should not be ignored that the support for China's leadership in the survey was only 1 percentage point more than that of the US, which dropped a record 18 percentage points. Besides, one survey result cannot be taken as gospel truth, although it was based on interviews with about 1,000 people aged 15 or above in 134 countries and regions.
Global confidence in US leadership may have declined, but there is still a gap between China and the US when it comes to comprehensive power. The US still has profound worldwide influence, and it still leads in fields such as high-tech and trade.
However, China should see the survey result as a sign of gaining greater support for its international role. And it should strengthen multilateral cooperation in fields such as emission reduction and produce more public goods.