WorthyNews: Panama, US To ‘Protect Panama Canal Against China’s Threats’

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

PANAMA CITY/BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The United States and Panama have agreed to secure the strategic Panama Canal after Washington expressed concern about China’s perceived threats in the world’s busiest waterway.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino signed a memorandum of understanding “on cooperative security activities” and a declaration on the security and operation of the Panama Canal.

Under the deal, US warships and auxiliary ships will sail “first and free” through the Panama Canal.

Hegseth said the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats from China but that the United States and Panama will keep it secure together.

Following the signing ceremony in Mulino’s palace in Panama City, China quickly condemned the deal.

“Who represents the real threat to the Canal? People will make their own judgment,” Beijing said.

Yet, speaking at a ribbon cutting for a new US-financed dock at the Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base, after a meeting with Panama President José Raúl Mulino, Hegseth said the U.S. will not allow China or any other country to threaten the canal’s operation.

NATIONAL PRIDE

The Panama Canal is a point of national pride for Panamanians, and officials have said any suspected infringement on their sovereignty is considered problematic.

Sources familiar with the talks said U.S. Defense Department officials flew to Panama to prepare for this week’s high-level talks, hoping to overcome tensions

President Mulino had angrily attacked U.S. President Donald J. Trump for saying he wanted “to retake” the Panama Canal due to China’s influence on the region.

Yet, by the time Hegseth departed the country, he had signed the agreement on Panama Canal cooperation.

In Panama, officials seem to hope this will convince Trump to abandon his plans to annex the waterway.

The post Panama, US To ‘Protect Panama Canal Against China’s Threats’ appeared first on Worthy Christian News.

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[timf]

The US has some investment in Panama. 40,000 US citizens died to build it. We even helped steal the country from Columbia. Jimmy Cater gave it away, maybe under the delusion that everyone in the world plays fair.

Forgetting the past, we might consider the "belt and road" approach of China in bribing local officials to agree to take a loan that their country will not be able to pat back and then have a legal claim to seize property, concessions, or facilities. This is similar to some in the US who got the Indians drunk so as to get their land.

[other one]

2 hours ago, timf said:

The US has some investment in Panama. 40,000 US citizens died to build it. We even helped steal the country from Columbia. Jimmy Cater gave it away, maybe under the delusion that everyone in the world plays fair.

Forgetting the past, we might consider the "belt and road" approach of China in bribing local officials to agree to take a loan that their country will not be able to pat back and then have a legal claim to seize property, concessions, or facilities. This is similar to some in the US who got the Indians drunk so as to get their land.

The Chickasaws in Oklahoma are getting revenge.  They are using gambling addictions to buy their land back. My wife is a chickasaw so pardon my glee over it.

[timf]

I am part Mohican. We got pushed off our land (into Massachusetts) by the Mohawks who wanted the Dutch trade. As a result, Many of my Indian ancestors had the opportunity to learn about Christ that might have otherwise only come much later.