Trump's hatchet signals the death of American soft power

Not so much directly. And in the short term, much of our loans now are with other countries and multilateral institutions,

Balisacan said

And while the US involvement in our economy as a trading partner is still very high, I think even with the freeze, it’s not like it’s going to severely affect us because the aid packages from the US are small right now,

said De Vega

There are always difficult budget environments and a new administration changes budget priorities, but we understand that Asia and the Philippines will remain a priority in the new Trump administration,

Washburn said last January 15.

Suspending and ultimately cutting many of these programs could have life or death consequences for countless children and families who are living through crisis. Suspending it casts uncertainty over all [US] humanitarian and development programming, which makes aid experts unable to effectively plan or operate,

Maxman added

Humanitarian and development assistance accounts for only around one percent of the federal budget; it saves lives, fights diseases, educates millions of children, and reduces poverty,

Oxfam America President & CEO Abby Maxman explained in a statement

The sea dispute will certainly become a bargaining chip in US relations with China, especially in regard to trade and tariffs. Everything is on the table to be bargained because Trump is no cold warrior. He is a deal maker who may even sell his own mother,

Roland Simbulan, a retired professor of Development Studies and Public Policy and chair of the Center for People’s Empowerment in Governance, told the South China Morning Post