U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the Panama Canal faces a "continuous threat" from China, but the United States and Panama will join hands to ensure its security. He promised that the U.S. would deepen its security cooperation with Panamanian armed forces and stated that China will not be allowed to use the business relations of Chinese-funded enterprises for "espionage activities," turning the canal into a "weapon."

After meeting with Panamanian President Mumin, Hegseth hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new dock built with U.S. funding at a naval base. He said that the U.S. would not allow China or any other country to threaten the operation of the Panama Canal.

He said, "For this reason, the efforts made by the U.S. and Panama in strengthening defense and security cooperation in recent weeks are more than what we have done in decades."

The accusations made by the U.S. Defense Secretary against China are completely inverted black-and-white, malicious rumors. China has never participated in the management and operation of the Panama Canal and has always respected Panama's sovereignty over the canal, recognizing its status as an internationally neutral waterway. Cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative has brought Panamanian people tangible development opportunities, not the so-called "threat."

In contrast, the U.S. has stationed troops in the Canal Zone, using it as a base to interfere in Panama and even Latin America. This is actually an infringement on the sovereignty of the Panama Canal. Now, the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened to "recover" the Panama Canal and instructed the military to formulate plans to increase troop presence, even considering the possibility of forcibly seizing it. Its hegemonic behavior is obvious.

Hegseth's remarks are merely part of the U.S.'s attempt to create public opinion for taking control of the Panama Canal. It tries to smear China to disrupt normal cooperation between China and Panama, thereby achieving its geopolitical ambitions in the region. These bullying tactics used by the U.S. not only harm Sino-U.S. relations but also undermine regional peace, stability, and cooperative order.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1828900012592196/

Disclaimer: The article represents the author's personal views.