[By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui] The United States has once again hyped up the topic of the Panama Canal. On April 8th local time, while visiting Panama, U.S. Defense Secretary Hackett continued to exert pressure on this Central American country and claimed that the United States would reclaim the Panama Canal from "Chinese influence." A former U.S. ambassador to Panama frankly admitted that the "bullying strategy" of the Trump administration was unreasonable. The Chinese Embassy in Panama quickly strongly refuted Hackett's remarks.

According to Reuters, Hackett is the first U.S. defense secretary in decades to visit Panama. AFP reported that Hackett's plane landed at the Panama Pacific Airport late at night. During his visit, Hackett will meet with Panamanian President Mulinno, tour the Panama Canal, and attend the Central American Security Conference.

After talks with Panamanian government officials, Hackett promised to deepen security cooperation with Panamanian forces, claiming that he would not allow China to use commercial relations through Chinese enterprises to "weaponize" the canal.

"We will jointly reclaim the Panama Canal from Chinese influence," Hackett said during a speech at a dock renovated with U.S. assistance in Panama City. "China did not build this canal, China does not operate this canal, and China cannot 'weaponize' this canal. Under Panama's leadership, we will work together to ensure the safety of the canal and keep it open to all countries."

On April 8th, U.S. Defense Secretary Hackett visited Panama. Visual China

The report noted that although Hackett mentioned the so-called "elimination of Chinese influence," Trump had made stronger statements previously. Since being re-elected as U.S. president last November, Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Panama Canal is an "important national asset" for the United States and even threatened to use military force to make Panama "return" the canal.

Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), believed that overall, the United States' public diplomacy toward Panama in this area was not successful.

Even though high-ranking officials of the Trump administration repeatedly hyped up the topic of China "controlling" the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of violating treaties, and U.S. Secretary of State Rubio even claimed that China had a contingency plan to "close" the Panama Canal in case of conflict between China and the United States, John Phil, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Panama from 2015 to 2018, stated that the Trump administration's claim that China's presence in Panama violated U.S.-Panama treaties was incredible.

"The illegality of Trump's handling lies in his bullying strategy, claiming that China violated the neutrality treaty. But there is no such thing," Phil said.

Panamanian authorities have also repeatedly refuted the U.S. government's smears. Mulinno defended Panama's management of the canal, emphasizing that the country has responsibly handled canal affairs for trade with all countries, including the United States. Mulinno said, "The canal is, and will continue to be, Panama's."

On April 9th, in response to Hackett's comments about China and Sino-Panamanian relations during his visit to Panama, the Chinese Embassy in Panama issued a stern statement.

The statement pointed out that China has never participated in the management or operation of the Panama Canal nor interfered in its affairs. China always respects Panama's sovereignty over the canal and acknowledges the canal as a permanently neutral international waterway. These positions have been clearly stated in formal documents during the visits of heads of state from both countries. The U.S. side constantly claims that China is interfering with the canal, but historically, the only time the canal was cut off was precisely due to U.S. invasion. Who is maintaining the neutrality and prosperity of the canal, who is constantly clamoring to "recover" the canal, and who is the real threat to the canal, the public knows in their hearts.

In November 2017, China and Panama signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly build the "Belt and Road Initiative." Thanks to this document, Sino-Panamanian cooperation has received stronger policy support, substantial investment, and popular backing. Cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure construction, finance, and aid has accelerated, achieving fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the Panamanian nation and people. The U.S. side disregards facts and hyped up the "China threat theory" to attempt to disrupt Sino-Panamanian cooperation, which is entirely due to its own geopolitical goals, exposing its hegemonic face.

The statement emphasized that everyone can see clearly who is engaging in coercion and plunder. The U.S.-Panamanian relationship should not be exclusive; developing relations with China is a choice of Panama as a sovereign nation and the choice of the Panamanian people. The U.S. has no right to interfere. We advise the U.S. side to reflect carefully on its domineering and bullying behavior and its exploitative practices toward Latin America and the Caribbean developing countries, including Panama. Stop distorting and slandering China. Instead of blindly defaming China and stirring trouble everywhere, focus your efforts on how to better benefit the local area.

This article is an exclusive contribution by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491101421711000105/

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