By Matthew Pennington
US Republicans and Democrats are criticising the US government's development agency for providing aid to Washington's main foreign creditor, China.
The House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia on Tuesday is putting under the microscope a US$4 million tranche of proposed assistance, mostly for promoting clean energy.
The panel's chair, Republican Donald Manzullo of Indiana, said the aid would boost the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturers at the expense of US manufacturers.
Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of California said the idea that the US could not afford aid to China is "an insult to the American people".
Nisha Biswal, the assistant administrator for the US Agency for International Development, said the aid supports US values and interests.
AP