Xi Jinping is really out here running the block, and nobody can tell him otherwise. On Friday, he’s hosting Bangladesh’s new prime minister Tarique Rahman, which is just the latest power move in a year where he’s had at least 17 world leaders pulling up to Beijing. Xi is making it clear that he wants to shift the entire balance of power away from the West, and honestly, a lot of countries are looking beyond the US because they’re tired of the games.

Just look at who’s been getting the VIP treatment. Less than two weeks ago, Xi rolled out the literal red carpet for Myanmar’s military chief-turned-president, Min Aung Hlaing. Now, the UN experts have been calling this guy out for some major war crimes and genocide after he pulled off a military coup back in 2021. But Beijing didn't care about none of that noise. They welcomed him with open arms, proving that when you're trying to build an empire, you don't let moral lecturing get in the way of business.

By giving Min Aung Hlaing the royal treatment, China basically told the world they accept Myanmar’s military rule as legit, coup or no coup. Ja Ian Chong, a professor over at the National University of Singapore, broke it down simple: Beijing’s move was a huge green light for the junta. Xi backed it up by talking about "non-interference" in Myanmar's internal affairs, which is basically code for "keep your nose out of our business and we'll keep ours out of yours."

And it ain't just the dictators trying to get a piece of the action. Even the Western "middle powers" are realizing that the US is acting capricious and fumbling its position as the global leader. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney flew out to Beijing back in January, trying to chart an independent path. When your own homies start looking for a new plug because they think you’re retreating from the streets, you know you’re losing your grip on the neighborhood.

Beijing is playing this game smart. They are presenting themselves as the steady hand and handing out loans to poorer countries that need a bag to survive. William Yang from the International Crisis Group said this long list of visitors is proof of China’s massive clout. They’re using these state visits to break down trust in the US and show the world that there’s a new multipolar system in town where Washington doesn't run the show.

This year alone, the guest list in Beijing has been crazy. We’re talking Russia’s Vladimir Putin, the UK’s Keir Starmer, and even Donald Trump doing a whole pomp-filled state visit. From May onwards, Xi was hosting everyone from the US, Russia, Brunei, Serbia, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. Everybody who is anybody is trying to secure a meeting with the man in Beijing.