Introduction. The article examines changes in the geopolitical configuration of power centers on the world stage taking place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main research purpose is to analyze the impact of current events on China’s international role and status.

Materials and methods. The primary sources are analytical materials, statistical data, documents on China’s domestic and foreign policy, speeches by officials, expert surveys, public opinion polls, media publications, etc. When working with the scientific literature and sources, a critical and comparative analysis, a systematic approach, methods of grouping, systematization and classification are applied.

Results of the study. Scientific works on the PRC’s development under pandemic conditions are systematized, the issues considered in them and research gaps are highlighted; the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak for China’s domestic and foreign policy are summarized; the likelihood of a change of global leader due to the pandemic is evaluated.

Discussion. The results obtained in the course of the study are compared with the estimates of other researchers, their similarities and contradictions are explained. This confirms the author’s hypothesis that the pandemic does not radically change geopolitical trends, it acts as a trigger for the processes that began long before the COVID-19 outbreak, but can unpredictably alter their trajectory under pandemic impact.

Conclusion. In the final part of the article, possible ways of further development of the “trigger situation” are predicted and prospects for study on the issue are outlined.

Key words: COVID-19 pandemic, China’s anti-epidemic experience, leadership in international relations, US-China confrontation, trigger, trigger situation, post-COVID-19 world.
10.56429/2414-4894-2021-38-4-19-36