The Trump administration's 'America first' focus lets China fill the vacuum in Southeast Asia and set the rules for engagement in the region The Trump administration's decision to freeze international assistance and gut federal agencies has sent shock waves across the globe,
The article from MSN discusses how former U.S. President Donald Trump's policies significantly weakened the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), thereby reducing American influence in Southeast Asia and inadvertently allowing China to expand its regional dominance. Trump's administration cut USAID's budget, politicized its operations, and shifted its focus away from long-term development towards immediate political gains, which included reducing support for democracy and human rights programs. This shift has led to a vacuum in U.S. soft power, particularly in countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, where China has stepped in with its Belt and Road Initiative and other economic engagements. The article highlights that these changes have not only diminished USAID's capacity to promote U.S. interests but also made it challenging for the agency to regain its former effectiveness, even under the subsequent Biden administration, as China continues to leverage its economic might to influence the region.
Science & Technology
