USAid's abrupt shutdown is 'self-inflicted wound' that cedes global influence to Beijing

Donald Trump's shutdown of the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, has already had disastrous effects on humanitarian aid and development programmes around the world, but it has also ceded ground to the US's chief rival, China, analysts say.

- Helen Davidson and Amy Hawkins

The sudden 90-day suspension of USAID funding - which accounts for 40% of global foreign aid - has led to chaos: staff locked out of offices, humanitarian shipments left to rot and lifesaving assistance stopped.

Around the world, development programmes previously helped by USAID are warning of risks of escalating famine, death and disease.

The president's plan involves merging the 63-year-old USAID into the state department, shrinking its workforce and aligning it with his priorities. But analysts say this works against one of his key priorities - countering China.

Prof Yanzhong Huang, senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said: "[The US is handing] on a silver platter to China the perfect opportunity to expand its influence, at a time when China's economy is not doing very well."

"What Trump is doing is basically providing China a perfect opportunity to rethink, to renew soft power projects, and get back on track to transglobal leadership."