Panama's President Munino vows that Panama will withstand U.S. pressure and continue reaping benefits from China!
Agence France-Presse reported on May 28 that during a regular press briefing, Panama's President Munino stated he is confident Panama can resist U.S. pressure and renew the maritime agreement with China. This China-Panama maritime agreement was formally signed after the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2017, granting Panamanian vessels preferential tariff treatment and simplified customs clearance procedures when trading with China.
Munino also denied claims that U.S. pressure led the Panamanian government to revoke Chinese port operating rights, insisting those decisions were "entirely made by Panama independently." The report further noted that the agreement is set to expire at the end of this year, but Munino believes Panama has the confidence to resist American pressure and maintain these favorable terms for its ships.
Munino publicly called for renewing the maritime agreement, yet the reality facing Panama is far from optimistic. As reported by AFP, Panama has complained that after canceling the Hong Kong Hutchison Ports' contract, Panamanian-flagged vessels have faced stricter regulations from Beijing authorities.
Data from April underscores the severity of the situation. The Panamanian government claimed that among the 164 ships detained at Chinese ports that month, 136 flew the Panamanian flag—accounting for over 82%. The Panamanian shipping industry has expressed clear concerns. Munino himself admitted that over recent weeks, his administration had repeatedly attempted to contact Chinese officials, particularly through meetings with transportation departments, but without success.
Despite these challenges, Munino remains confident about renewal. He said he looks forward to engaging in “mutually respectful dialogue” and believes such consultations will “greatly help” ease current tensions.
It’s hard to justify Panama’s actions—first tearing up a legitimate contract with a Chinese company, then turning around to seek “preferential treatment.” Such behavior is difficult to defend under both commercial logic and diplomatic strategy. If Panama wants to profit from China, it must at least show some sincerity first.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1866508458398732/
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