Fox News: Former USAID official warns China is already looking to fill void left by paused programs

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Former USAID official warns China is already looking to fill void left by paused programs

China is reportedly trying to fill the voids left in several countries by the Trump administration's freeze of USAID funding....                        ...                        ...                            ...The Trump administration's pause of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login may leave the door open for China to spread its influence, and Beijing is not wasting time trying to fill in the gaps.......A former USAID official, who spoke with Fox News Digital under the condition of anonymity, said that whereas the U.S. 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 programs 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.......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......China has already stepped up its funding to Cambodia's largest demining organization, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), in the absence of U.S. funds, according to Reuters. As it seeks increased influence, Beijing pledged $4.4 million to CMAC, more than double the $2 million it received from the U.S. last year, the outlet added.......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.......The former USAID official emphasized that "by removing these [USAID] programs it 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."......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......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 You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login'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 program was aimed at advancing women's economic empowerment.......Lilian Achom, who is based in Uganda, participated in USAID W-GDP Fund programming and was present when Trump launched the W-GDP. Now, she fears that women grappling with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are widows trying to raise children.......When speaking to Fox News Digital, Achom said Trump needs to "think about the underprivileged deep down in northern Uganda. The underprivileged, the children, the women who are currently suffering."......Achom recalled meeting Ivanka Trump and spoke highly of the president's daughter, saying that she was "inspired" by her......."I saw in her someone who was really, really interested in women's empowerment, economic development and digital inclusion for women around the world," Achom said of Ivanka.......The former USAID official who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the funding freeze is "impacting potentially every aspect of the lives of women and girls who were benefiting from USAID programs." The official added that while China is already trying to fill certain voids left by the U.S., it's unclear whether they will fund programs focused on women......."Beijing's economic diplomacy is inherently predatory," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a Fox News request for comment. "We will work with partner nations so they can make informed decisions about their interactions with China. It's no secret that when CCP-aligned companies arrive in town, they are often backed by state-sponsored theft of intellectual property and economic espionage."......"This is not about ending foreign aid, but restructuring assistance to serve U.S. interests, and to be sure the money spent on aid programs actually reaches people in need," the spokesperson added. "Programs that serve the national interest will continue."......You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login......The White House has accused USAID of funding "the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats."......Among the areas of "You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login" highlighted by the White House are $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam, $1.5 million to "advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Serbia's workplaces and business communities," and $6 million to fund tourism in Egypt....

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