As U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited the trade war with China, he is gutting federal government funding for foreign aid agencies and media outlets, in a move touted as an ‘America first’ approach by his Administration and slammed by Democrats and critics as damaging the U.S. soft power on the global stage. Following decades of efforts to build partnerships and influence, including with the promotion of democratic and free-economy values, the U.S. is now retreating, leaving a void that China would be happy to fill. …
