1d ago

Amid foreign aid pause, lawmakers alarmed China could fill void

abcnews.go.com Lawmakers worry China could take over after Trump pauses foreign aid

Lawmakers from both political parties invoked China as a potential winner in international development as the U.S. reviews its foreign assistance programs.

Summary

U.S. lawmakers are concerned that China will expand its influence as the U.S. reviews foreign aid programs, including demining grants in Cambodia.

The State Department paused funding, affecting NGOs that rely on U.S. support. China recently provided $4.4 million for Cambodia’s demining efforts, raising concerns that it will step in where U.S. aid is cut.

Bipartisan voices warn that reducing foreign assistance weakens U.S. influence globally.

Former ambassadors urged the government to resume aid, citing national security and diplomatic benefits.

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This is why we need USAID. I know what the GOP thinks, that we have all this money and we’re just sending it off to other countries. But that money was doing a few things for us, it was stopping underdeveloped countries in developing into a state of Terrorism, and it was providing peaceful, democratic countries that would buy our exports.
Imagine, just for a moment, that the fall of the Soviet Union occurred, and the only person around willing to send medical supplies, food packets, money, cloths, and retail products to Eastern block states is China…the influence a country would have over an entire region would be enormous. Same thing with Africa, and the Middle East. How horrible would it have been to have all of the Middle East in the hands of a global/economic competitor.
We need a US diplomatic and functional presence overseas.
I would call for the GOP to reinstate the USAID office and its workers ASAP…but those bitch-ass m’fuckers ain’t never gonna read this.

7 comments