In the index, the US ranked first in total power rankings with 80.7 points, while China followed closely behind with 72.5 points.

The ranking, in which 26 countries in the region are evaluated on 8 criteria that include economic capacity, military capacity, resilience, resources that can be used in the future, economic relations, defense networks, diplomatic influence and cultural influence, shows that USA as two great powers.

In the index, the closest rivals of the US and China are Japan with 37.2 points, India with 36.3, Russia with 31.6 and Australia with 30.9, although it is striking that the power gap with these countries is increasingly extensive.

“US UNMATCHED SUPERIORITY IS OVER”

The institute’s researchers stressed that China “is not far behind” despite the fact that the US maintains its position as the dominant power in the region. used the phrase.

While the US topped the list with 88 points for economic capacity, which is the most heavily weighted criterion, China followed with 87 points. The researchers highlighted that the economic losses caused by the control measures implemented by China in the 2022 Covid-19 epidemic were effective in this, and that after the removal of the measures it could leave the US behind in this area in the new Year.

While China ranked first in the index with 98.3 points on the economic relations sub-measure, the US followed with 53.7 points.

It has been noted that China’s share of foreign direct investment in the region’s countries has increased steadily since 2018.

China was also ahead of the United States, which scored 89.3 points in the diplomatic impact criterion, with a score of 91.5.

The researchers found that the US retained its dominant power position, largely due to the difficulties caused by China’s isolation from the outside world in the Covid-19 epidemic, but in terms of total power components until the end of the 2020s, given the long term. long-term slowdown in China’s economic growth, saying it is not expected to outpace its rival. (AA)