On taking back the Panama Canal. One must go back to the Neutrality treaty of 1977. The Treaty called for permanent neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal for all nations to use it, and stated that the United States could use its military force to defend the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality. Currently China operate…
On taking back the Panama Canal. One must go back to the Neutrality treaty of 1977. The Treaty called for permanent neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal for all nations to use it, and stated that the United States could use its military force to defend the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality. Currently China operates ports on either end of the Panama Canal which is seen as potentially interfering with an open and neutral canal. As to withdrawing from the WHO, in 2024 and before Trump one, the US was one of the largest contributors to the WHO budget. China, who has a significantly larger population than the US and who technically is no longer a BRICS country along with other transitioning countries have not had its dues recalculated based upon economic development. Trump's also disapproves of how the WHO handled the coronavirus investigation. Both are legitimate issues that need to be addressed.
China does not control the Panama Canal itself. But before the handover, a Hong Kong shipping company, Hutchison Ports PPC, won an international bid in 1997 to allow Chinese companies to operate the container shipping ports on either end. Hutchison Ports PPC and its parent company, CK Hutchison Holdings, are not owned by the Chinese government but they are subject to China's national security law. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2025/01/21/panama-canal-trump-us-china/77845029007/. Trump was right to withdraw the US from the WHO.
And you don’t believe that being subject to Chinese National security law could impact and influence commercial as well as defense use of the canal? President Trumps bluster on this is his usual strategic use of controversy to get a response. I predict he and Mulino will meet soon.
On taking back the Panama Canal. One must go back to the Neutrality treaty of 1977. The Treaty called for permanent neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal for all nations to use it, and stated that the United States could use its military force to defend the Panama Canal against any threat to its neutrality. Currently China operates ports on either end of the Panama Canal which is seen as potentially interfering with an open and neutral canal. As to withdrawing from the WHO, in 2024 and before Trump one, the US was one of the largest contributors to the WHO budget. China, who has a significantly larger population than the US and who technically is no longer a BRICS country along with other transitioning countries have not had its dues recalculated based upon economic development. Trump's also disapproves of how the WHO handled the coronavirus investigation. Both are legitimate issues that need to be addressed.
China does not control the Panama Canal itself. But before the handover, a Hong Kong shipping company, Hutchison Ports PPC, won an international bid in 1997 to allow Chinese companies to operate the container shipping ports on either end. Hutchison Ports PPC and its parent company, CK Hutchison Holdings, are not owned by the Chinese government but they are subject to China's national security law. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2025/01/21/panama-canal-trump-us-china/77845029007/. Trump was right to withdraw the US from the WHO.
And you don’t believe that being subject to Chinese National security law could impact and influence commercial as well as defense use of the canal? President Trumps bluster on this is his usual strategic use of controversy to get a response. I predict he and Mulino will meet soon.