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US-China on very real collision course over the Panama Canal

United States President Donald Trump’s recent pledges to reclaim the Panama Canal have signaled rising US-China tensions in Latin America, America’s resource-rich backyard and traditional sphere of influence.

After Trump said in his January 20 inauguration speech that it is time for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal, US Senator Eric Schmitt on January 23 introduced a resolution calling for the Panamanian government to ”expel official and interests of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and terminate Chinese management of key Panamanian ports.”

The resolution also calls upon the government of Panama to:

  • reaffirm its commitment to the “permanent neutrality” of the Panama Canal as defined by the Neutrality Treaty signed In 1977;
  • review and terminate agreements allowing Chinese state-owned enterprises or China-based so-called private entities to manage strategic infrastructure, including the ports of Balboa and Cristobal;
  • reaffirm its commitment to maintaining the sovereignty of Panama and protecting the security of the Western Hemisphere by seeking partnerships that align with democratic values and mutual respect.

The resolution said the US government should offer significant investments to modernize Panama’s canal infrastructure and provide alternatives to Chinese-funded projects; provide technical, financial and strategic support to Panama as it seeks to assert sovereignty over its critical infrastructure, and reduce its dependence on entities affiliated with the PRC.

In short, Schmitt’s resolution calls for the termination of the operational concession granted by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) to Hutchison Ports Holdings, a port management company with global interests controlled by Hong Kong tycoon Li

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