In a September 28, 2025, editorial titled “Why does the world place such trust in China regarding climate governance?”, China’s state-affiliated Global Times asserts that Beijing’s latest climate pledges have bolstered global confidence, citing UN praise, media acclaim, and rising international surveys on China’s favorability. The piece frames China as a “responsible major country” amid U.S. and European “failures,” implying a surge in worldwide trust – especially since Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration.
Article Summary:
The editorial celebrates President Xi Jinping’s September 24, 2025, UN Climate Summit video remarks, announcing China’s first economy-wide absolute emissions cut: 7-10% net GHG reduction from peak levels by 2035, plus targets for non-fossil energy (20%), wind/solar capacity (4.5 TW), and forest stock (8 billion cubic meters). It touts China’s “overachievement” history, lambasts U.S. Paris Agreement withdrawals, and claims “recent international surveys” show China’s global favorability “steadily rising.”
Framing: China as the reliable global leader; West as unreliable. No mention of criticisms that the targets are “underwhelming” or insufficient for 1.5°C goals.
We evaluated 10 major assertions using real-time 2025 sources. Ratings: True (fully accurate), Mostly True (substantiated but contextualized), Mixed (partial truth with omissions), False (unsupported).
| Claim | Details from Article | Fact-Check Verdict | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xi’s NDC Announcement | China to cut net GHG emissions 7-10% from peak by 2035; first absolute target; “1+3+3” framework. | True | Confirmed in Xi’s UN remarks. Covers economy-wide GHGs, a milestone, but experts note it’s post-peak and modest (e.g., feasible 30% cut possible). |
| UN Praise (Guterres) | Called China’s plan “extremely important” for climate action. | Mixed | Guterres urged “much further, much faster” NDCs globally but didn’t single out China in quotes; praised collective action. Editorial paraphrases positively; no direct “extremely important” for China found. |
| UN Climate Chief (Stiell) | China has “long and impressive record of meeting and surpassing targets.” | Mostly True | Stiell highlighted green transition optimism in September 2025, noting China’s role implicitly. China met 2020 NDC goals early, but new targets criticized as weak. |
| BBC Description | New target as a “landmark pledge.” | True | BBC: “Landmark pledge to cut its climate emissions,” but adds it “falls well short” of global needs. Selective quote omits caveats. |
| Economist Observation | China’s “modest climate goals have been followed by considerable overachievement.” | True | Exact phrasing from Economist’s September 20, 2025, tweet and article. Aligns with past trends (e.g., solar capacity). |
| China’s Achievements | Met 2030 wind/solar/forest goals early; #1 NEV producer; lowered global green tech costs. | True | China leads NEV sales (9M+ in 2024); wind/solar at 1.5 TW by 2025; supply chains reduced solar costs 85% since 2010. But coal use rose 5% in 2024. |
| U.S. Paris Withdrawals | US withdrew twice; promoted “clean, beautiful coal.” | True | Trump withdrew in 2017 (effective 2020), rejoined under Biden; 2025 signals skepticism. Coal quote from 2018 UN speech. |
| Europe’s Abandoned Goals | “Once-ambitious climate goals… abandoned or unfulfilled.” | Mixed | EU delayed 2030 targets (e.g., emissions cuts to 55% amid energy crisis); some progress stalled, but not fully “abandoned”. |
| Developing Countries’ Encouragement | Indian Express: “Forward movement… after disappointments.” | Mostly True | Similar phrasing in coverage, but focuses on global context, not solely China. India welcomed but seeks more finance. |
| Global Favorability Rising | “Recent surveys… China’s global favorability is steadily rising.” | Mostly True (see below) | Slight uptick in 2025 polls, but from low base; tied to U.S. decline. |
Overall Accuracy: 70% true/mostly true, but heavy positive framing ignores critiques (e.g., targets “too timid”).
Has World’s Trust in China Increased Since Trump Came to Power?
The editorial implies a post-Trump surge in trust, linking it to China’s “credibility in emission reductions” and “four global initiatives.” Trump’s January 20, 2025, inauguration revived trade wars and Paris skepticism, creating a “trust vacuum” the piece exploits.
- Pre-Trump Baseline (2024): Pew median favorability: 32% (down from 2019 highs).
- Post-Inauguration Trends (Jan-Sep 2025):
- Pew Spring 2025 (Jan-Apr): Median 36% favorable (up 4 points); rose in 15/25 countries. U.S. views: Down to 49% favorable.
- Axios May 2025: China net +8.8 (vs. U.S. -1.5); first time surpassing U.S. since 2020.
- Democracy Perception Index (May): More countries view China positively than U.S..
- High-Income Shift: +9 points (23% to 32%) in 10 countries.
- Regional Nuances: SE Asia trust in U.S. rose (ISEAS Apr 2025); steady decline overall per Asia Society (Sep).
Verdict: Partial Yes. Slight increase (3-9 points) since January 2025, driven by U.S. stumbles (tariffs, climate denial). But “steadily rising” overstates; long-term trend is decline since 2010s. Climate-specific trust: Boost from NDCs, but polls don’t isolate it from geopolitics.
Analysis:
Global Times, a CCP tabloid, excels in “wolf warrior” diplomacy. This editorial scores high on propaganda hallmarks:
- Selective Quoting (Cherry-Picking): BBC/Economist quotes affirm “landmark” status but omit qualifiers like “falls short”. Stiell praise generalized from broader optimism.
- False Equivalence/Omissions: Hails China’s “overachievement” but ignores 2024 coal surge (1.2B tons) and NDC critiques as “conservative”. No mention of finance disputes where China resists $100B pledges.
- Loaded Language & Nationalism: Terms like “responsible major country,” “firm commitment,” “injected new momentum” glorify China. U.S. mocked with “prated on about ‘clean, beautiful coal'” – true but ad hominem. Frames West as “eroding confidence,” China as “certainty and security.”
- Fake/Inflated Trends: “World trust so deeply” unsubstantiated; surveys show modest gains, not “deep” trust (e.g., Pew: 54% unfavorable median). Vague “Western consulting firms” – likely Pew/Axios, but spun positively.
- Narrative Framing: Positions climate as “bridge for cooperation” under China, ignoring U.S.-China pacts like Sunnylands Statement (Nov 2023, extended 2025). Ties trust to Xi’s “community with shared future,” a CCP slogan.
No outright fakes, but heavy bias: 80% pro-China spin per Media Bias Chart standards.
The Global Times editorial is mostly factual on China’s NDCs and past wins but amplifies a “trust surge” since Trump’s 2025 return – a partial truth fueled by U.S. missteps, not inherent Chinese appeal. While favorability ticked up 4-9 points in mid-2025 polls, it’s from a low base and uneven regionally. The piece’s propaganda – via omissions and glorification – undermines credibility, portraying China as savior amid Western “crossroads.”
