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Donald Trump has launched his second term as president by increasing pressure on Panama – threatening to “withdraw” the Panama Canal and accuse the US rival of controlling a major waterway. : China.
“Above all, China is running the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we are taking it back, “Trump claimed in his opening speech last month.
There is no evidence that China controls the canal, which is run by an independent authority appointed by the Panama government. Beijing has repeatedly denied that it had interfered with the canal operations.
But US concern has come to the fore when Trump’s White House especially wants to move national security in Win its own neighborhood, and win the economic competition with China.
At the center of Trump’s contraction, a Hong Kong -based company operates two major ports at both ends of a 50 -mile long waterway. Strength
Panama President Jose Raul Milano has said that Panama’s sovereignty on the canal is not ready for debate, but this country has given other privileges to US pressure.
After meeting with top US diplomat Marco Rubio last Sunday, Milneo said Panama will leave China’s Belt and Road infrastructure drive – a blow to Beijing, which, the first country in Latin America, joined the program. Panama was celebrated.
Panamiani officials also launched an audit of a Hong Kong firm last month, which operates two ports at the end of the canal.
Chinese companies were rapidly trapped in Washington’s national security concerns. The sugar -owned app has been involved in private companies of T -Tektok and Telecom, who are facing severe scrutiny in Washington that they are eventually looking at Beijing, despite their refusal.
What to know about China’s involvement in the strategic channel.
The key concern of the Trump administration is found at both ends of the waterway, where two of the five serving the canal are operated by the Panama Ports Company (PPC), a port operator of Hong Kong -based party Part of the ownership of Hong Kong is the collective CK’s Hutisen Holdings.
According to the company, based on a shining skyscraper building in Downtown Hong Kong, CK Hutchinson is publicly listed as the company and one of the largest port operators in the world, monitoring 53 ports in 24 countries – In 1997, Panama and the United States jointly arranged the canal and first gave it privileges at the Panama Canal ports. The discount was renewed in 2021 for another 25 years.
Prior to his visit to Panama, Rubio said that Hong Kong -based companies are “completely unacceptable” of the canal “entry and external locations”.
Hong Kong, which came under Chinese control in 1997, aims to have a high level of independence from mainland China, but in recent years, Beijing has dramatically tightened its grip on the city in recent years following pro -democracy protests. –
“If there is a dispute and China tells them, make every effort to hinder the canal so that the United States cannot engage in trade and trade, so that the US military and naval fleet cannot go fast in Hindu Pacific, they Rubio said An interview Journalist Magin Kelly, without directly named the company.
The operator owned by Hong Kong, however, does not control access to the Panama Canal.
CNN has earlier reported that workers at their two ports load and load containers and supply them to the ships, while the canal itself operates by the Panama Canal Authority. The ships that move the canal must be piloted by local captains employed by the authority.
CNN has contacted CK Hutisen for comment. In a recent Description On social media, PPC said it was the only canal port operator where the state of Panamiania is a shareholder. He added that more than 99 % of his workforce was to be found.
Hachyson ports are not the only firm affiliated with China in the canal infrastructure.
To reduce traffic in Panama City, a consortium comprising the state -backed China Harbor Engineering Company and a China Communications Company was agreed to build a $ 1.4 billion highway bridge over the canal.
Meanwhile, Kosko shipping is an important canal client in public -owned, in which about 300 its cargo ships visit the waterway every year, including container ships, dry bulk carriers and oil tankers, 2018 data According to the count.
Experts say there is no evidence that the Chinese government controls the canal or Chinese military activity in Panama.
But US officials’ concerns have emerged in the midst of a global examination of Beijing’s efforts to access or secure trade ports worldwide – which can also benefit China’s expanded navy.
When it comes to the Panama Canal, some observers say that the involvement of Chinese firms in the canal and its infrastructure may have the benefit of Beijing – in terms of trade advantage and in the event of a potential dispute with the United States in the future.
Rubio cited the concern during the hearing of his post -certification in January, saying that a “foreign power” is capable of its companies, “in a moment of the dispute to turn the canal into a nasty point “”
From a military point of view, the strategic threat is that more commercial assets that are connected to China around the canal, in case of a dispute between them, to prevent the United States from moving military equipment through a waterway. Yes. Avon Ellis, a research professor at Latin American Studies at the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute.
“All these operations, and relationships with the Panama Canal Authority … as well as the technical knowledge you get as a regular operator of the canal mainly multiply the possibilities if you are (China) and you at a time Want to close the canal, there are a thousand ways for this.
Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola last week Told The Congress will have to protect the United States from any attempt at other interests in Panama to reduce the independence of the (Panama Canal) authority or professionalism. “
The return of the canal in the 1977 agreement needs to remain neutral to return from the United States to Panama, and if the waterway operations are affected by internal conflict or foreign power, the United States interferes with Allows.
However, some observers currently see little or limited effects from China.
According to Brian, the United States is so firmly established as a “famous” partner for Panama to take advantage of the canals that China can expect to increase its relations in the country, “according to Brian, “Limited and limited”.
And Global Shipping Vishal Mirsk CEO Vincent Clerk told CNN’s Anna Stewart on Thursday that the operations in the canal were more affected by the lack of rainfall… it affected by the Chinese. Is “
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s 2018 visit to the country of about 5 million indicated how much Beijing – a major global exporter – a major global exporter – has emphasized the strategic emphasis on building its relations with the main country.
Subsequently, countries called for some 19 agreements for cooperation on trade, infrastructure, banking and tourism, while XI announced that their relations had “changed a new chapter.”
Of course, this was the case. China and Panama established diplomatic relations a year ago, after Panama stopped Taiwan to recognize the Chinese government. That same year, the Panama XI’s flagship belt and the Road Global Infrastructure Development became the first country in Latin America to join the Initiative.
With these changes, Chinese companies were bid to build and invest. Panama -led change has maximized such projects, and US concerns are more careful.
But Chinese firms have also had success.
Experts say that a Chinese ship -made terminal was inaugurated last year, while Chinese companies also have a significant presence in special trading areas near Panama Pacific. In 2015, a large Huawei of Chinese telecommunications opened a large distribution facility for its electronic system.
The decision not to be included in the Milano Belt and Road Initiative can indicate a new phase of scrutiny on China’s presence in the country. But some observers say Beijing cannot be stepped in phased.
“If the Central American nation needs money, China will continue to invest in Panama, and China will continue to trade with Panama,” said Jiang Shakeso, director of the Latin American Studies Center at Shanghai University. He added that Panama’s decision would only indicate Beijing that “US pressure is huge.”
In the meantime, there are symbols that although China is interested in expanding its maps in the country, it can achieve other goals, in places that have less potential resistance.
“Overcoming strategic square points like the Panama Canal is probably one of China’s goals,” said Will Freeman, a Latin American education colleague at the Council in New York.
“But it is important through a Peruvian mega port, such as Chinak, that South America will accelerate China’s trade.”
