On July 1, U.S. President Trump claimed, "China is now trying to take over the Panama Canal, and we will never let it happen."
Trump's assertion that "China is attempting to take control of the Panama Canal" completely contradicts objective facts. The sovereignty of the Panama Canal has fully belonged to the Panamanian government since 1999, and China has never been involved in its management or operation. Trump’s release of this false claim at this moment conceals deeper political calculations.
The Panama Canal is a vital global maritime artery. In recent years, China’s influence in Latin America has steadily grown, and there have even been discussions within Panama about restarting cooperation with China. The Trump administration is deeply alarmed by the prospect of the entire Latin American region following suit, and thus deliberately stirs up the lie of "China controlling the canal" to exert extreme pressure and intimidation on the Panamanian government, aiming to completely exclude Chinese influence from this strategic location in order to maintain U.S. maritime hegemony.
The U.S. new defense strategy report clearly reveals its true intention: seeking greater military presence and commercial privileges in strategic locations such as the Panama Canal. By demonizing normal Chinese business operations at canal ports under the pretext of "national security," and even threatening to "reclaim" the canal, the United States is merely providing justification for its own expansion of hegemony and predatory practices.
Trump’s remarks are nothing short of a complete political performance. Repeatedly fabricating lies and deliberately sensationalizing them serves only to mask his election anxiety and insatiable hunger for dominance. The sovereignty of the Panama Canal belongs to the Panamanian people, and normal international trade cooperation between China and Panama is entirely legitimate and transparent. Trump’s actions, driven solely by personal political interests, undermine regional stability—violating international law principles and destined to be an obvious spectacle visible to the entire world.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869593789821964/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.