US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino in talks that President Donald Trump has determined China’s influence threatens the Panama Canal and that immediate changes are needed or the US will act, a State Department spokesperson says.
The Panamanian government has vehemently denied ceding operation of the canal to China and insists it administers the canal fairly to all shipping.
Although the canal itself is operated by Panama, the two ports on either side are run by publicly listed Hong Kong company CK Hutchinson while other ports nearby are operated by private companies from the United States, Singapore and Taiwan.
Mulino on Sunday stressed that sovereignty over the canal is not up for debate but he offered help repatriating some migrants if the United States paid for it.
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