Disagree:
Line 1: The strings attached requirements with China. Like Western culture more then dictatorships.
Line 2: Somewhat true, but is US cash better and stronger the China cash?
Line 3: Yes, but buying them is not a relationship it is but an acquaintances.
Line 4: Not so true in today world, take put do not give.
I remember when the Soviet Union had many fellow travelers in the Middle East. Things were always going South. One nation or another flared up during critical times, some of them causing critical times.
I don’t like the idea of payola to nations. At the same time it does help. It helps keep more level heads. It helps to keep them all ganging up on Israel at critical times.
The problem with policies that work, is that things become so smooth and non-confrontational, that folks think the money is a waste, not worth continuing.
I acknowledge that some of the things you say are true.
I don’t think aid to foreign nations is a zero sum loss.
If China were to get their polices to be accepted by some of these nations, it wouldn’t just cause problems regionally, but it would also cause a deterioration of relations with China itself.
In a way it’s like saying the Secret Service isn’t necessary because we haven’t had a president mowed down since Kennedy.