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As Trump guts foreign aid, China and others lead Myanmar earthquake response (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 5 days ago by yogthos@lemmygrad.ml to c/worldnews@lemmygrad.ml

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[–] RedWizard@hexbear.net 9 points 5 days ago

Critics have warned that President Donald Trump’s cuts to U.S. foreign aid, [...] could create an opening for authoritarian governments such as China and Russia that are trying to increase their global influence.

China has announced $14 million in assistance for Myanmar, including 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and 40,000 first aid kits. A team of 118 Chinese rescuers arrived in the country Sunday along with six rescue dogs and two vehicles, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, in addition to 82 who arrived Saturday.

Russia, meanwhile, has sent 20 rescuers, including dog handlers and drone operators, according to the Russian state news agency Tass, as well as three planes including an airmobile hospital.

They really can't help themselves, can they. Myanmar will be better off without our aid. It would come with strings attached.

[–] Finiteacorn@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

does us foreign aid actually have a positive effect? im actually curious, cuz surely some of the money they slush around has to end up helping some people who need it but at the same time i look at shit like what they did after that earthquake in Haiti a while back and im back to wondering if it helps anyone at all.

[–] DamarcusArt@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 5 days ago

In Japan, the Yakuza are often first on the scene to provide support after a natural disaster. This does help the community recover. However, they obviously aren't doing it for moral reasons, they do it because it makes sure the community "owes them" and they gain information about the community and how best to exploit it. Additionally, people who have gone "missing" in the natural disasters are often easy targets for human traffickers.

USAID is basically the international version of this. Technically there is aid involved, but it is almost entirely self-serving.

[–] cayde6ml@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 5 days ago

I wouldn't be surprised if some foreign aid genuinely helps some people, but I doubt that it's more than a drop in the ocean.

[–] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I do think this will have an immediate effect in the negative way... for the short-term.

Long-term? It may mean that U.S. propaganda efforts may or will be in shambles.

Which makes coup attempts hard to do.

But we shall see.

[–] yogthos@lemmygrad.ml 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

If other countries like China step up, then there might not even be that many negative effects in the short term. And at least aid will becoming without the poison that US aid carries with it.

[–] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 5 days ago

it's a fair point

I think some countries will suffer initially but overall, there will be mid- and long-term benefits to this new arrangement.

Though I suspect that the USA may realize it's mistake in another administration and reverse course, but by then, it will be too late...