China plummets to replace the Asian USAID project x by Trump

The US cancelled two aid projects in Cambodia in late February. It is because it encourages children’s literacy and another project will improve nutrition and development for children under the age of 5. A week later, Chinese aid agencies announced funding for programs to achieve nearly identical targets.

“Children are the country and the future of the country,” said Cambodia Wang Wen Bin, China’s ambassador, who was standing next to the country’s health minister and UNICEF officials at the event. “We should work together to take care of our children’s healthy growth.”

Although the Chinese announcement did not include dollar figures, Chinese money essentially funds the same type of initiatives and development goals as the efforts that ended as part of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, according to two people with knowledge of the US project.

Both focused on “comprehensive education” and “the most vulnerable children,” according to news releases and procurement documents. They both provided school supplies, hand washing materials, and improved outcomes for “fragile” families, homes, newborns and children with disabilities.

The price tag ($40 million) for the US program said the Trump administration saved this week by centred on thousands of aid contracts, compared to the $27.7 billion savings. But for Cambodia, where the national GDP is roughly equivalent to its Vermont state, it was a huge sum and replacing lost foreign funds was a priority.

The State Department, which oversees USAID and may now fully absorb the agency, said in a statement that the United States is a funding program that makes Americans richer and safer. At the same time, he said that the US has achieved “great progress” by investing in Cambodia’s development over the past 30 years and “partnering closely” with the government.

“We hope that despite the changing approach to US foreign aid, our relationship with Cambodia will be productively mature as America is safer, stronger and more prosperous,” the department added in the statement.

The deal ended on February 26th after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk began a drastic overhaul of US foreign aid.

It’s just an example, but it appears to confirm the horrors voiced by Democrats, some Republican lawmakers, aid advocates, and former US officials. By cutting foreign aid, Trump is giving China the opportunity to fill a vacuum and gain soft power in countries where the global enemy competes for influence.

This is especially urgent in Cambodia, with the US having spent around $1 billion since the 1990s. Washington has long been a difficult battle with China in Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia. The Biden administration has raised concerns about China’s military impact at the country’s naval bases over the past four years.

However, recently the US has moved. I’ll strengthen it Phnom Penh’s defense with the government granted US warship access to Ream for the first time at the end of last year.

“Diplomatic gifts”

Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, said it was a “diplomatic gift” to China. “In every country where there is a serious USAID cut, if they put a little money in their health and education projects and say, ‘Look, we’re ramping up,’ then that seems like a bit of a promotional gift for them. And I’m sure they’re smart enough to take it. ”

With the Trump administration shutting down USAID, ending most foreign aid contracts and leaving most of its employees, US lawmakers, development experts and national security experts highlight the geopolitical risks of reducing US foreign aid in developing countries.

Many of these lawmakers and experts have warned that China is open to the country, gaining even more influence on developing countries after pleading for billions of loans after years of begging officials from Africa, Asia and South America, then focusing on infrastructure through Beijing’s belt and road initiatives.

And certainly has it. China has already announced funding for the Cambodia demining initiative, which was dropped by the US in Beijing in mid-March and later recovered. announcement An early childhood development project in Rwanda, where USAID recently cut contracts. And Chinese officials have It is reportedly It offered to supplement funding for the Nepal gap between India and China.

Will Parks, Cambodia’s representative for the United Nations Children’s Fund, said in a statement that in 2024, the organization and Cambodia signed a partnership with China, based on proposals from 2022.

“Cambodia has made great strides for children over the past decade,” he said. “However, further cuts in the aid budget could put these struggling outcomes at risk.”

The Cambodian government was explicit about drawing links.

“The Cambodian government works with many partners and we don’t rely solely on one partner,” government spokesman Pen Bona said via text message in response to questions. “So, if one partner withdraws support, we will try to find another partner to replace it.”

China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that China will “continue to support economic and social development” in Cambodia “under the framework of South-South cooperation.”

“China’s aid policy remains consistently clear,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued. “China’s principle of non-interference remains unchanged, not giving empty promises, rather than putting political strings.”

According to one person familiar with the session, Trump appointee Pete Marrocco, who led the attack on USAID at a closure hearing this month at Capitol Hill, was asked about the Cambodian project and the timing of China’s rapid announcement. Marrocco has dispelled concerns that China is increasing its influence, the person said.

Marrocco did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump’s team says that the cancelled projects will not benefit Americans, but Diana Putman, who has retired as a proxy assistant administrator for USAID in Africa, said the agency’s billions of foreign support helped to give the ambassadors a significant advantage.

“Their leverage and their ability to make a difference in terms of their country’s foreign policy is backed by the money they bring, and in the southern part of the world, money is primarily the money that USAID has,” Putman said.

This story was originally introduced Fortune.com