The U.S. canceled two assist initiatives in Cambodia in late February—one to encourage baby literacy and one other to enhance diet and improvement for teenagers underneath 5. Per week later, China’s assist company introduced funding for applications to attain virtually an identical objectives.
“Children are the future of the country and the nation,” China’s ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin mentioned on the occasion, standing subsequent to the nation’s well being minister and a UNICEF official. “We should care for the healthy growth of children together.”
Whereas China’s announcement didn’t embrace a greenback determine, the Chinese language cash primarily funds the identical forms of initiatives and improvement objectives as efforts terminated as a part of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID, in line with two individuals with data of the U.S. initiatives, who weren’t approved to talk publicly.
Each centered on “inclusive education” and the “most vulnerable children,” in line with information releases and procurement paperwork. They each supplied faculty provides, providing hand-washing supplies and bettering outcomes for “vulnerable” households and households, newborns and kids with disabilities, in line with the individuals.
The value tag for the U.S. applications—$40 million—was small in contrast with the $27.7 billion in financial savings the Trump administration mentioned this week it saved by axing 1000’s of assist contracts. However for Cambodia, whose nationwide GDP is roughly equal to that Vermont, it was a giant sum, and changing misplaced overseas funds has been a precedence.
The State Division, which oversees USAID and will now take up the company solely, mentioned in a press release that the U.S. was funding assist applications that make People wealthier and safer. On the similar time, it mentioned the U.S. had achieved “significant progress” by investing in Cambodia’s improvement over the previous 30 years, “partnering closely” with the federal government.
“Despite changes in the U.S. approach to foreign assistance, we hope to see our relationship with Cambodia productively mature as we make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” the division added within the assertion.
The contracts had been terminated on Feb. 26 after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk launched a sweeping overhaul of U.S. overseas help, which included dismantling the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement.
Though it’s just one instance, it seems to verify fears voiced by Democratic and a few Republican lawmakers, assist advocates and former U.S. officers: By slashing overseas assist, Trump is giving China a straightforward alternative to fill a vacuum and acquire a soft-power benefit in international locations the place the worldwide adversaries compete for affect.
That’s particularly pressing in Cambodia, the place the U.S. has spent roughly $1 billion because the Nineteen Nineties. Washington has lengthy waged an uphill battle with China in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia specifically. The Biden administration raised considerations about Chinese language navy affect on the nation’s Ream Naval Base over the past 4 years.
However extra not too long ago, the U.S. has moved to strengthen protection ties with the federal government in Phnom Penh, which granted an American warship entry to Ream for the primary time late final yr.
‘Diplomatic gift’
“It’s a diplomatic gift” to China, mentioned Charles Kenny, a senior fellow on the Middle for World Improvement. “In every country where there’s a serious USAID cut, if they put a small amount of money into a health and education project and say, ‘Look, we’re ramping up,’ that does seem to be a bit of a publicity gift for them. And I’m sure they’re smart enough to take it.”
Because the Trump administration moved to close down USAID, terminate most of its overseas assist contracts, and furlough or place on depart most of its staff, U.S. lawmakers, improvement specialists and nationwide safety professionals have highlighted the geopolitical dangers of curbing U.S. overseas assist within the creating world.
Lots of these lawmakers and specialists have warned that China might transfer in, gaining additional affect over creating nations after wooing officers in Africa, Asia and South America for years with tens of billions in loans centered totally on infrastructure by way of Beijing’s Belt and Street Initiative.
And it actually has. China already introduced funding for a Cambodian de-mining initiative that was dropped, and later restored, by the U.S. In mid-March, Beijing additionally introduced an early childhood improvement mission in Rwanda, the place USAID not too long ago curtailed contracts. And Chinese language officers have reportedly supplied to make up for funding gaps in Nepal, nestled between India and China.
Will Parks, the Cambodia consultant for the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund, mentioned in a press release that the group and Cambodia signed a partnership with China in 2024, primarily based on a proposal from 2022. It was launched earlier this month and “complements” funding from different nations, Parks mentioned.
“Cambodia has made tremendous progress for children over the past decade,” he mentioned. “But further reductions of aid budgets could jeopardize these hard-won achievements.”
Cambodia’s authorities was express about drawing a hyperlink.
“The Cambodian government works with many partners, and we never rely on any one partner exclusively,” authorities spokesman Pen Bona mentioned by way of textual content message in response to questions. “So if one partner withdraws support, we seek to find another partner to replace it.”
China “will continue to provide assistance to economic and social development” in Cambodia “under the framework of South-South cooperation,” the Chinese language International Ministry mentioned in a press release.
“China’s aid policy remains consistent and clear,” the International Ministry continued. “China’s principles of non-interference, not attaching any political strings, not giving empty promises remain unchanged.”
In a closed-door listening to on Capitol Hill this month, Trump appointee Pete Marocco, who led the assault on USAID, was requested in regards to the Cambodia initiatives and the timing of China’s swift announcement, in line with one particular person acquainted with the session. Marocco dismissed considerations about China growing its affect, this particular person mentioned.
Marocco didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Whereas Trump’s workforce have mentioned the canceled initiatives introduced no advantages to People, Diana Putman, who retired as USAID’s performing assistant administrator for Africa, mentioned the company’s billions in overseas help helped give U.S. ambassadors an important benefit.
“Their leverage and ability to make a difference in terms of foreign policy in that country is backed up by the money that they bring, and in the Global South that money is primarily the money that USAID has,” Putman mentioned.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
