Not every country is the same - that's a line used by bad actors to avoid scrutiny. And they are not honest about it - they say they don't interfere and are not acting for political interests, but they do.
> All the third-world countries that have had their debts to China blow out of control have been able to renegotiate.
I haven't read that but would be interested if you know of something. Also, what did they have to give up?
China says that, but they put countries into enormous debt and then control them. They also build naval bases in many of those countries.
> smaller countries tend to prefer partnering with them
Countries near China's borders have turned strongly against their neighbor. The US has built a widespread network of alliances around that.