Politics
AND ROAD INITIATIVE, ASIA, BEIJING, BLACKROCK, BRP SIERRA MADRE, CHINA, CK HUTCHISON, DONALD TRUMP, DYLAN LOH, GEOPOLITICS, HONG KONG, INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT, LI KA - SHING, MA, MA HUI, MEXICO, NORTH AMERICA, PANAMA, PANAMA CANAL, SINGAPORE, TA KUNG PAO, TERRITORIAL DISPUTE, TERRITORIAL DISPUTES, TRUMP, UNITED STATES, US, US-CHINA RELATIONS, WASHINGTON
Dante Raeburn
China Dispatches Delegation to Panama Amid Canal Dispute and Strategic Shifts
China has sent a delegation led by Ma Hui to Panama to address concerns following CK Hutchison’s sale of port operations near the Panama Canal. The visit aims to foster dialogue amid rising U.S. influence and Panama’s withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. These developments reflect ongoing tensions and strategic recalibrations in international relations surrounding the canal.
In a significant diplomatic move, China has dispatched a senior delegation to Panama, following troubling developments regarding the Panama Canal. This visit aims to clarify the implications of these events and potentially mend ties. The delegation, spearheaded by Ma Hui, a vice-minister from the Communist Party’s International Department, engaged in discussions with political leaders and think tanks in Panama.
During the visit, Ma Hui expressed China’s desire to enhance collaboration with Panama’s political factions and intellectual circles, thereby strengthening mutual understanding and trust. This initiative comes on the heels of a controversial announcement from CK Hutchison Holdings regarding the sale of its port operations near the Panama Canal to an American-led consortium.
China has openly criticized this transaction, viewing it as a concession to U.S. pressures to diminish Chinese influence in the region. The sale was characterized in Chinese media as a betrayal amid mounting U.S. scrutiny of Panama’s relations with China. U.S. President Donald Trump has praised this deal, raising concerns from Beijing.
According to Dylan Loh, a foreign policy expert at Nanyang Technological University, the purpose of the delegation’s visit is to understand Panama’s recent concessions to the U.S. and gauge the implications for China’s shipping and trade networks. He suggested that the talks may reveal whether Panama’s adjustments signal a major pivot towards American influence.
In response to strategic pressures, Panama recently decided to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a move criticized by China, which declared it against Panama’s essential interests. Both nations have refuted U.S. claims about Beijing’s substantial control over the Panama Canal, asserting their commitment to maintaining cordial relations despite external pressures.
The Chinese delegation’s visit to Panama underscores the ongoing complexities in Sino-Panamanian relations, particularly in light of recent developments regarding the Panama Canal and U.S. influence. The delegation aims to enhance political and public discourse, while also seeking clarity on Panama’s strategic alignment. The withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative further complicates matters, highlighting the interplay of global political pressures and regional interests.
Original Source: www.scmp.com
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