“China has always respected the permanent neutrality of the canal and firmly supports Panama in safeguarding its sovereignty over the canal to ensure its openness and smooth operation,” Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, told the meeting, chaired by Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, on Monday.
Acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea spoke afterwards about concerns regarding China’s “outsized influence” over the Panama Canal area, especially over critical infrastructure and port operations. She also called China’s influence a “risk to Panama and the US” and a “potential threat to global trade and security”.
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Why the US is worried about China’s growing influence in South America
Why the US is worried about China’s growing influence in South America
“China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims and aggressive actions demonstrate its threat to maritime security and commerce,” Shea said, alluding to the South China Sea.
In response to Shea’s remarks, Fu condemned what he called “unwarranted accusations” against China.
“The US fabrication of lies and groundless attacks against China are nothing but a pretext for seeking control of the canal,” he said.
“It has openly threatened the normal operation of the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, and has wantonly challenged the sovereignty of other states … We urge the United States to do some serious soul searching and to assume in good faith responsibilities as a major country.”
US President Donald Trump has claimed without proof that China secretly controls the canal, and he has threatened to “take back” the important waterway that the US built in the 1900s but returned to Panama in 1999.
