TOKYO, May 30 -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly said China is poised to become the world's leading power, asserting that the United States lacks the capacity to halt its rise due to growing domestic preoccupations.

Speaking at the Nikkei Future of Asia conference in Tokyo, Dr Mahathir said US President Donald Trump appeared threatened by China's emergence, but noted China's long-standing civilisation and resilience would ensure its ascendancy.

"China has been there much longer than the US ... I don't think China is going to be easily defeated by the US," he was quoted saying by Nikkei Asia.

"I don't think the US will recover and become No. 1 again. China looks like it is going to be the No. 1 country in the wo...