Panama Canal cannot be controlled by China: US defense chief

WASHINGTON

The Panama Canal cannot be controlled by China, which is investing and operating in the region for a military advantage, and "unfair" economic gain, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

"President (Donald) Trump has made it clear that the Panama Canal and the canal areas cannot and will not be controlled by China," Hegseth said at the Central American Security Conference in Panama City.

The US does not seek war with China, he said, adding: "War with China is certainly not inevitable. We do not seek it in any form.

"But together, we must prevent war by robustly and vigorously deterring China's threats in this hemisphere."

The US is working closely with partners in Panama to secure the canal, he said.

"The era of capitulating to coercion by the Communist Chinese is over their growing and adversarial control of strategic land and critical infrastructure in this hemisphere cannot and will not stand," said Hegseth.

Hegseth said Tuesday that the US "will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence."

"China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal, and China will not weaponize this canal," he told reporters.

Trump said in February that Panama violated its agreement with the US on the canal and declared that Washington would take back control of the waterway.

Shortly after Trump’s remarks, US State Secretary Marco Rubio visited Panama to meet President Jose Raul Mulino, which was followed by Panama’s exit from China’s Belt and Road initiative, drawing criticism from Beijing.