China's bigger diplomatic budget underlines global push, unlike Trump's 'America first'

China's growing foreign policy budget signals a proactive approach to deepening ties with the Global South and expanding its Belt and Road Initiative, at a time when the US is taking an isolationist turn under "America first", according to observers. Dylan Loh, assistant professor of foreign policy at Singapore's NTU, said the foreign policy budget boost was "normal" for a major power like China with a growing diplomatic footprint and increasingly global interests. But the increase was also a fresh signal that "[China] is further investing in diplomacy and its foreign policy", Loh noted. The belt and road, in particular, would remain an important pillar of Chinese foreign policy, Loh said, adding that Beijing was likely to double down on its outreach to the Global South developing countries and on furthering its global initiatives.

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