US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth said that the Panama Canal is threatened by China, but the US and Panama together will protect the canal.
The Chinese government reacted sharply to Hegseth’s statement, saying, “Who is the real danger to the canal? People can decide themselves.”
At an event held at Belboa naval base after meeting with Panama President Jose Raul Mulino, Hegseth said that the US will not let China or any other country endanger the operation of the canal. He said, “For this, the US and Panama have done a lot of work towards strengthening their defense and security cooperation in recent weeks as compared to the previous decades.”
He said, “Chinese companies are maintaining their control over the important infrastructure in the canal area. This has given China an opportunity to do monitoring activities in Panama. This is why Panama and America’s security is feared to be in danger. President Donald Trump has paid attention to this. This situation is not acceptable.”
After the meeting of Hegseth and Mulino, the Chinese Embassy in Panama targeted the US government and said in a statement on ‘X’ that the US has used “blackmailing” to pursue its interests. The embassy said, “With whom Panama does business, it is” Panama’s sovereign decision … and America does not have the right to intervene in it. “
The embassy said, “The US has launched a sensational campaign about the ‘theoretical Chinese danger’ as part of an attempt to harm the Chinese-Non-cooperation, which is completely inherent in its geopolitical interests of the US.”
