The CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, has dismissed claims by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that the canal is under Chinese control, calling the allegations “unfounded.”
“The accusations that China is running the Canal are unfounded,” Vásquez Morales told The Wall Street Journal. “China has no involvement whatsoever in our operations.”
Vásquez Morales emphasized the canal’s neutrality, stating, “Rules are rules and there are no exceptions. We cannot discriminate for the Chinese, or the Americans, or anyone else. This will violate the neutrality treaty, international law, and it will lead to chaos.”
Trump’s comments, made during a Mar-a-Lago event, included criticisms of the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999. Trump described the handover as a “big mistake,” calling the canal “vital to our country” and accusing China of abusing the agreement.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also dismissed Trump’s assertions, labeling them “nonsense.” “The canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians,” Mulino said, adding there were no Chinese soldiers stationed at the canal.
U.S. military officials have expressed concerns over China’s growing investments in global shipping ports, including bids by Chinese state-owned enterprises on projects linked to the canal.
The Panama Canal handles 5% of global commerce, including 40% of U.S. container traffic.