The CEO of the Panama Canal has denied claims by President-elect Donald Trump that the waterway built by the United States more than a century ago is now under government control. Control of China.
The head of the Panama Canal Authority said, “The accusations that China runs the canal are baseless.” Ricorte Vasquez Morales He told the Wall Street Journal Wednesday. “China has absolutely no role in our operations.”
Vázquez Morales reportedly added: “The rules are the rules and there are no exceptions.” He added, “We cannot discriminate in favor of the Chinese, the Americans, or anyone else. This would violate the neutrality treaty and international law and would lead to chaos.”
In the 1970s, then-President Jimmy Carter negotiated what became known as the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which agreed that the United States could use military force to defend the waterway against any threat to its “neutrality.” This aspect was considered crucial for the United States at that time amid the threat of countries allied with the Soviet Union. Carter also agreed to hand over the Panama Canal itself to Panama on December 31, 1999.
Trump: Carter was a 'very good' person but Panama Canal moves were 'a big mistake'
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
On Tuesday, a reporter asked Trump at Mar-a-Lago whether he would assure the world that he would not use “military or economic coercion” to take control of the Panama Canal, as well as Greenland.
“No, I can't assure you either of those things,” Trump said. “But, I can say this. We need them for economic security. The Panama Canal was built for our military.” “Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It's run by China. China. And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn't give it to China. And they abused it. They abused it. A gift that should never have been made.”
As former President Carter lay in state in the Capitol, Trump said he loved the man but disagreed with the deal he made over the canal.
“Giving the Panama Canal is the reason Jimmy Carter lost the election, in my opinion, probably more than the hostages. The hostages were a big deal. But if you remember, no one wanted to talk about the Panama Canal, because, you know, because it was, you know,” Trump later added. “I think this is inappropriate, but because it is a bad part of Carter’s legacy,” he added. “But he was a good man.” Look, he was a good guy. I knew him a little, and he was a very nice person. But that was a big mistake.”
President Carter speaks next to his wife, Rosalynn, upon his arrival in Panama City to sign the Panama Canal Treaty on June 16, 1978. (AP photo)
This is not the first time that the Panamanian government has denied China's influence.
Last month, Trump posted on TRUTH Social, “Merry Christmas to everyone, including the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, running the Panama Canal.”
In response, Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino China rejected this claim as “nonsense”, saying in a press conference: “There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal.”
He added, according to what was reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), “The canal is Panamanian and belongs to the Panamanians. There is no possibility to open any kind of dialogue about this reality.”
Trump floats idea of restoring Panama Canal: 'He foolishly gave it up'
Trump's concerns mirror those expressed by the United States Ministry of Defense Regarding the increasing Chinese investments in shipping ports around the world.
Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee last March, Gen. Laura Richardson, head of U.S. Southern Command, told lawmakers that the People's Republic of China “messages its investments as peaceful, but in reality, many of them are bullet points.” “The People's Liberation Army's future multi-domain reach and strategic maritime choke points.”
“These investments include critical infrastructure such as deep-water ports, cyber facilities and space facilities,” Richardson warned. “In Panama, state-owned enterprises controlled by the People’s Republic of China continue to bid on projects related to the Panama Canal – a global strategic transit point.”
Five percent of global trade passes through the Panama Canal, Richardson said.
A cargo ship passes the Agua Clara locks in the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama, on September 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mathias Delacroix, File)
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Two seaports on either side of the Panama Canal have been operated for decades by Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports PPC, the New York Times reported, noting how the Chinese government is increasingly implementing Its national security laws On Hong Kong Island it could force companies to comply with intelligence gathering and military operations.
According to the Panama Canal, approximately 40% of US container traffic passes through the Panama Canal To the newspaper.
