The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee convened Tuesday to discuss the American-Chinese rivalry at the Panama Canal, one of President Donald Trump’s major talking points since his reelection in November.
Trump has repeatedly called for the United States to take back control of the canal—while not ruling out using military force to do so—and has warned of heavy Chinese activity in the region.
Sen. Ted Cruz opened the hearing by warning of increasing Chinese control of the canal—in his view, a violation of the United States’ 1977 agreement with Panama that returned control of the canal to the Central American nation at the end of 1999, as well as an economic and national security risk.
“Chinese companies are building a bridge across the canal—at a slow pace so as to take nearly a decade—and control container ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation poses acute risks to U.S. national security,” said Cruz.
China Is CLOSING IN on the Panama Canal
Sen. @tedcruz, R-Texas, explains how China poses a serious risk to national security if the U.S. does not control of the Panama Canal. pic.twitter.com/sXGIeIJLXt
— The Daily Signal (@DailySignal) January 28, 2025
“We cannot afford to let American shippers be extorted,” Cruz said. “We cannot turn a blind eye if Panama exploits an asset of vital commercial and military importance. And we cannot stay idle while China is on the march in our hemisphere.” […]
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