China has more diplomatic posts around the world than any other country. Diplomatic posts include embassies and consulates. They represent a country overseas. China overtook the USA. China now has 276 diplomatic posts, while the USA has 273. The two countries have an equal number of embassies, but China has more consulates. China overtook the USA after it opened five new embassies in the past two years. The embassies are in Burkina Faso, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, the Gambia and Sao Tome and the Principe.
Information about the number of diplomatic posts countries have was published in a report called the Global Diplomacy Index. A spokeswoman said the Index shows China is having more influence in the world. China's increasing diplomatic posts shows it wants to be a key player in the global economy. The spokeswoman said: "The results suggest that...China's network of overseas consulates can support the rollout of Beijing's economic ambitions." While China is expanding its diplomatic presence around the world, the spokeswoman said: "U.S. diplomacy has entered a period of limbo".