China boasts the world¡¯s largest diplomatic network, according to an Australian think tank report, just ahead of the U.S.

Japan, which operates one of the world¡¯s largest diplomatic networks with 251 posts, came in fourth behind Turkey.

The Lowy Institute¡¯s Global Diplomacy Index, which tracks the presence of overseas diplomatic missions, found that China had a larger footprint last year than the U.S. in key areas of geopolitical interest including the Pacific, East Asia and Central Asia.