China has already seized ports in countries that obviously wouldn't be able to pay. It's not some wild accusation, it's already happening.

The USB cable really has nothing to do with it besides being a convenient shape, you can do the same with a screwdriver.

Idk I think the actually trying to create democratic republics is a more recent thing since the world is online now and the US voter base is starting to hear about what's actually happening in other countries. Prior to that it was pretty much just get someone in power willing to make deals in the US's benefit, which almost always turned out to be shortsighted and required power be concentrated to fewer people.