Can China turn the US aid freeze into a soft power win? | DW News

#USaid #China #Geopolitics
After the Trump administration slashed billions in foreign aid, humanitarian programs worldwide are struggling to stay afloat. This raises a critical question: Could this be Beijing's chance to boost its global influence?

First, let’s break down what soft power means. Soft power isn’t about tanks or troops — it's about winning hearts and minds through culture, aid and diplomacy. In short, it's persuasion, not force. But persuasion only works when trust exists — and that's precisely where the US might be losing ground.
According to Gallup, a research firm for global polling, China's popularity is growing in Africa, even slightly overtaking that of the US. But not everyone in the Global South is convinced. And there are some sticky issues Beijing might need to first address before it can really win over hearts and minds.
They had a lot of antagonism toward the Chinese business practices as well because some of them did not respect human rights and labor laws of their countries. There was a lot of tension between the local population and the Chinese that were doing business in those countries. So, ultimately, for China to really make this a win, it needs to build trust among local communities and prove that it’s a fair business partner, not just a lender.

#USaid #China #Geopolitics