I wrote about this several years ago upon returning from a trip to the Caribbean and seeing first hand the building projects by the Chinese.
Trump isolationism and me-first policies while withdrawing aid from countries and international organizations is opening doors for others. China’s efforts started before Trump, but he is making it much easier for China and much worse to the United States around the world.
While we withdraw, China expands. Trump’s attacks on Venezuela regardless of how you view them, also gives China the opportunity to say to others, “see how the US will treat you?”
Trumps lack of clear and well considered policies and actions in favor of a Wild West and me-first approach is doing great harm to our country.
From the Wall Street Journal 12-31-25 China Signals It Won’t Give an Inch to the U.S. in Latin America
“The Washington-based think tank said Beijing’s policy plan demonstrated its intention to expand diplomatic and economic ties in Latin America, and position itself as an alternative to the U.S. China is gaining political leverage in the region by spending money on infrastructure projects and extracting critical minerals, energy and other natural resources. This is done while its diplomats engage local political power brokers via its embassies.
Beijing now claims 24 signatories in the region to its Belt and Road Initiative, compared with none before 2017. It has also displaced the U.S. as the biggest trading partner with many Latin American countries. “China’s strategy is basically not giving an inch,” said Ryan Berg, a co-author of the CSIS analysis.”
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Al Lindquist
“see how the US will treat you”–sounds good to me–:
if your country is a prison and the inmates are the citizens (Cuba also comes to mind) this is how we treat you–if you export drugs to our people this is how we treat you–if you impose socialism and proceed to destroy your economy this is how we treat you–when you invalidate an election this is how we will treat you–when your people leave in droves and become migrants heading toward the U.S. this is how we will treat you.
now, somebody should take out Putin a dangerous thug who wants to reconstruct the Soviet empire–we should treat Russia as above although they have nukes which makes for danger.
China is the big threat and they, like so many others, only respect power. We are so busy with social programs and the debt they create that China probably see us as a paper tiger.
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You say you say first hand Chinese building projects in the Caribbean. Was this prior to Trump? I can’t say I have seen any Chinese building projects but I have read a few years back of China penetrating the Latin American markets for trading. South America seemed to have things they wanted and China had the ability to produce cheap autos they could sell there but the US wouldn’t permit in our market. All of this pre Trump. Anyway, my point is that we can’t stop China from engaging in trade around the world. It has nothing to do with isolationism.
We all know by now that Trump is a loose cannon but he can’t stop the sun from coming up tomorrow. I’m disappointed in the brash way he flies by the seat of his pants but I’m not disappointed that his opponents in the election lost. The democrats have nothing to offer. You may think otherwise but so be it.
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Yes, before Trump. On one island they built the airport on another a library. No, we can’t stop China from trade nor should we, but their goal is more of political power and gaining allies to align with them. That is the greater risk.
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