China filling the gaps

It's not as simple as all this, but the fact that this can even be discussed shows just how much US influence has fallen.

With lengthy white papers, energetic diplomacy and generous aid policies, Chinese officials have taken pains in recent years to present their country as a new kind of global power that, unlike the United States, has only good will toward other nations.

In reality, the Chinese "goodwill" is largely a hands off policy so long as nations cooperate with them economically. In some cases this is fairly benign, Saudi, Venezuela, etc, but let's remember that this "goodwill toward other nations" also includes support for the governments of Sudan and Myanmar.