US will not let China disrupt Panama Canal: Pentagon chief

“WONDER OF THE WORLD”

The Trump administration has put immense pressure on Panama to reduce Chinese influence on the canal, which Washington sees as a threat to US national security.

“I want to be very clear. China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal. And China will not weaponise this canal,” Hegseth said, calling it a “wonder of the world”.

Speaking alongside Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino, Hegseth said the US and Panama together would “take back the Panama Canal from China’s influence” and keep it open to all nations, using the “deterrent power of the strongest, most effective and most lethal fighting force in the world”.

He claimed that China’s control of critical infrastructure in the canal area gave Beijing the power to conduct spying activities across Panama, making Panama and the US “less secure, less prosperous and less sovereign”.

The Chinese Embassy in Panama issued a statement refuting Hegseth’s claim that Beijing interferes in the operations of the canal.

“China has never taken part in the management or operation of the Panama Canal, nor has it interfered in issues” concerning the waterway, the statement said, calling on Washington to halt “blackmail” and “plundering” of Panama and other countries of the region.

It labelled Hegseth’s comments “not at all responsible or founded” and said the US “has orchestrated a sensationalist campaign based on the ‘China threat theory’ so as to undermine cooperation between China and Panama.

“China has always respected Panama’s sovereignty with regard to the canal,” the embassy said.

The Panama Ports concession to operate Balboa port on the Pacific side of the canal and Cristobal port on the Atlantic side was first granted in 1997 and renewed for another 25 years in 2021.