The package includes reactivating security operations centers in Argentina and Belize to monitor Chinese threats to critical infrastructure and cyber platforms, and to counter Belt and Road-style influence, ports, minerals, and offshore fishing operations.

The proposals revive or expand China-focused initiatives that were dismantled or paused after the DOGE-driven budget reductions, aiming to restore diplomatic presence and influence.

A broad U.S. push could channel hundreds of millions more dollars into anti-China initiatives worldwide, including the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia, with over $340 million already proposed for more than 50 projects.

Past budget and personnel cuts under a government efficiency initiative reduced USAID and diplomatic posts, and the current push seeks to reactivate paused or halted projects.

Officials warn that cheaper-looking Chinese options may incur higher long-term costs due to overruns and maintenance, and emphasize China’s economic, technological, and diplomatic leverage as a national security concern.

Specific projects target protecting ports, safeguarding critical minerals and fisheries, countering China’s Belt and Road leverage, and developing secure communications tech to resist surveillance and influence.

The plan relies on internal State Department documents and congressional notifications, with several details still in flux and funding scopes subject to final approval.

Internal documents note a potential near $500 million for China-focused programming abroad, intended to restore diplomatic influence and address cuts from the prior year.

There was no immediate comment from China’s embassy in Washington on the proposals.

The discussions come as President Trump plans to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping around the United Nations General Assembly in September, signaling a proactive stance to counter China even as occasional cooperation persists.

The initiatives appear to revive programs paused during prior cuts and reflect a broader strategy in the U.S.–China dynamic as talks with Xi continue.

The programs would restore previously funded efforts in Central America and parts of the Caribbean, with limited engagement in Nicaragua, targeting countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Haiti.