Panama's President: Sino-Panamanian Relations Improve After Port Dispute
On May 7, Panama's President José Raúl Mulino said that following a period of tension sparked by the port dispute, relations between Panama and China have shown signs of improvement.
This January, Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that the contract under which a Hong Kong-based Hutchison Ports subsidiary operates two ports on the Panama Canal was unconstitutional. Subsequently, the Panamanian government formally took over the two ports in late February. Thereafter, reports emerged that China had inspected and detained vessels flying the Panamanian flag. China denied these actions were retaliation for the court ruling, dismissing them as "baseless fabrications and outright distortions."
Speaking to Western media on the 7th, Mulino said that incidents of Panamanian ships being seized at Chinese ports have "somewhat decreased." He noted that "under rational guidance, this once rapidly escalating tension is beginning to ease," and revealed that the Chinese government has expressed willingness to resolve disputes through legal channels—an indication he described as "a major step forward." Mulino also emphasized that such disputes should not be settled "by detaining ships at ports."
Since launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he would "reclaim" the Panama Canal, regarding this vital waterway—responsible for 5% of global maritime trade—as a strategic asset with both commercial and military significance. After returning to the White House last year, Trump persistently and incorrectly asserted that China "controls" the Panama Canal and has continuously pressured Panama to reclaim it.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864592979427328/
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