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House subcommittee hearing spotlights Pacific Islands influence as U.S. aid and programs face freezes
Summary
Members and outside experts warned that recent freezes of U.S. development and democracy programs risk ceding influence in the Pacific to China and urged sustained, targeted diplomatic and aid engagement, including reopening embassies and funding Millennium Challenge Corporation and USAID projects.
Chairwoman Sharon Kim opened the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific hearing saying the session would "evaluate the last 4 years" of U.S. policy in the region and identify opportunities for the new administration.
The hearing focused heavily on U.S. engagement with Pacific Island nations, where members and witnesses said diplomatic presence, small development projects and regional partnerships matter far beyond their dollar amount. "We have to show up because if we're not, the PRC can show up with bags of cash and demonstrate influence," Ranking Member Representative Ami Bera said.
Nut graf: Witnesses and members said recent administrative freezes on aid and democracy programs—cited during the hearing as including pauses in USAID funding and programs run by the National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute—have created openings that…
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