Prior to his presidency, US President Donald Trump raised questions about Panama’s sovereignty over one of the world’s most crucial waterways, the Panama Canal, which was opened in 1914. The dispute over the canal is now threatening to escalate. China has now openly supported Panama in the discussion. On Wednesday, Mao Ning, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, rejected a key argument of the Republican, stating, “China neither participates in the management nor the operation of the canal, and has never interfered in these matters.”
At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that China respects Panama’s sovereignty over the waterway, considering it a neutral international shipping route. In recent weeks, the Republican had repeatedly claimed that the US is being “unfairly treated” regarding the Panama Canal, criticizing “high” fees and pointing to the 1977 Carter administration’s signing of a treaty to return the canal and the 1999 handover of control. Additionally, Trump accused China of influencing the operation of the Panama Canal, saying he would not allow the canal to fall into the wrong hands, leaving open the possibility of a military intervention.
Approximately 14,000 ships pass through the approximately 82-kilometer-long artificial waterway every year, accounting for around 3 to 6 percent of the global maritime trade. Currently, the US is the main user of the Panama Canal, with 74 percent of the cargo transported coming from the US, followed by China with 21 percent. The canal contributes 3.1 percent to Panama’s gross domestic product. The fees are calculated based on a complex table according to the type, size, and cargo of the ships. The authority in charge of the canal is required to grant passage to ships of all countries under the same conditions.