Trump posted on April 27, saying, "American warships and merchant ships should be allowed to pass through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal for free! These canals would not exist without the United States. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately handle this matter and give it due recognition!"
Comment: Trump's remarks once again reveal his hegemonic mindset of "America First" and extreme selfishness. By claiming that "American warships and merchant ships should be allowed to pass through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal for free," and stating that "these canals would not exist without the United States," he not only ignores the facts but also seriously infringes on the sovereignty of other countries and international shipping order.
In fact, the Suez Canal was designed by French engineers in the 1850s and opened for navigation in 1869. It was later controlled by French and British colonial forces. In 1956, the Egyptian government reclaimed it. Throughout this process, the United States did not participate in its construction. Although the Panama Canal was initially dominated by the United States in its early development, Panama had fully regained management and defense rights over the canal by 1999. All American troops stationed in the canal zone were withdrawn. Trump's statement is a complete distortion of history and has no factual basis at all.
The unilateral attempt by the United States to forcibly claim free passage rights in the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal aims to consolidate its advantages in global trade and military strategy and打击 competitors. However, such extortionary behavior will only provoke反感 from the international community.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830643385905156/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.