US plans $500M+ anti-China spending

The Trump administration is preparing to ramp up funding by hundreds of millions of dollars for programs designed to counter China's growing influence around the world, after many such initiatives were halted last year due to budget cuts. The administration notified Congress of a $175.8 million plan to replace undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America to prevent Chinese involvement. Additionally, the State Department is considering nearly $500 million in further spending across the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia, including security operations centers, port protections, and initiatives to counter Chinese influence in cyber, critical minerals, and the selection of the Dalai Lama's successor. The moves come despite a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in September.