Sen. Hagerty, after South America trip, warns China moving to step into ‘vacuum’ left by US

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., spoke to Fox News Digital about his visit to South America and how the U.S. risks leaving an opportunity for China in the region.

Hagerty told Fox News Digital that he saw how those countries have basic economic problems and are in the process of trying to develop their economies, and how the Chinese are trying to exploit that.

"Basic economic problems were exacerbated by the pandemic shutdowns that took place. So they're trying to emerge from the pandemic with underperforming economies and with much higher crime rates. And in that situation, the United States has left a vacuum," he said. "We have not shown up as we should have with our neighbors here in our own hemisphere." 

"China's good at seeing the vacuum and seeing the opportunity, and they're stepping up and taking advantage of it," he said.