U.S. Congress aid fight gives opening to China in Pacific, critics say

WASHINGTON/SYDNEY -- The U.S. Congress has failed to work out a pathway to approve funding for Pacific island nations for months, creating a void that China could potentially fill as Washington and Beijing vie for influence in the South Pacific.

The Senate is set to vote on a supplemental budget bill on Wednesday, which includes aid for Ukraine and Israel. A bill that was packaged with measures for enhanced border security failed to pass a procedural vote. It is unclear whether a stand-alone aid bill has enough votes to pass or if the House will take it up if approved by the Senate.