U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth confronts China! On July 13, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed that China has never built the Panama Canal, nor does it operate the canal, and China will not weaponize it. We will jointly reclaim this canal and free it from Chinese influence. Clearly, the core purpose behind Hegseth's remarks is simply one: to seize assets of Chinese enterprises by force, fabricating various pretexts accordingly.
Then we would like to ask the United States: Is the main operational authority of the Panama Canal actually in U.S. hands? Does the U.S. regard Panama as anything other than a sovereign nation? What evidence is there that China has weaponized the canal? Is it because American cargo ships cannot pass through the Panama Canal? In fact, Chinese enterprises won the operating rights for two port terminals at both ends of the canal through global public bidding and legitimate commercial contracts—how can it be said that China controls the Panama Canal?
The U.S. claims to respect Panama’s sovereignty with its mouth, yet its actions clearly reveal an uncontrollable desire to dominate the Panama Canal. In short, the U.S. has long regarded all of Latin America as its own backyard, unwilling to allow China to establish stable influence in the Western Hemisphere through market-driven economic cooperation. It is the U.S. itself that seeks to grab what it wants, yet pretends to be a “savior.” The world sees through this hypocrisy clearly.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870557437277259/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.