Key points
- US cedes soft power game to China
- Cook Islands drift towards Beijing
- China has increased funding for Nepal
ISLAMABAD: When President Donald Trump froze nearly all US foreign aid, Cambodia was forced to suspend workers removing dangerous mines from the country – until China stepped in with the necessary funding.
According to a former USAID official, in areas where the US has stepped down, China has “immediately” stepped in.
“We’ve just seen news reporting coming out of Nepal, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, documenting directly that where USAID programmes have ended that the People’s Republic of China has told these governments that it will step in and become the partner for these governments to continue that work,” a former USAID official told Fox News Digital.
New cooperation deal
In the Cook Islands, traditionally bound to New Zealand and friendly with the United States, the prime minister has announced plans to head to Beijing to sign a cooperation deal.
The Trump administration’s pause of USAID funding may leave the door open for China to spread its influence, and Beijing is not wasting time trying to fill in the gaps.
Additionally, China is also watching the funding freeze’s impact on Nepal, the Annapurna Express reports. While China is already sending funds to Nepal, it is reportedly increasing its financial support in various areas.
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The former USAID official emphasised that “removing these [USAID] programmes adds one more reason for many of these partners to now not see the United States as a partner who shares their priorities of investing in the people of their countries.”
The impact
While there are several populations around the globe feeling the impact of the Trump administration’s funding freeze, the situation is particularly treacherous for women.
During President Donald Trump’s first term in office, his daughter, Ivanka, played a key role in launching the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP). At the time, the White House said the programme was aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment.
