Speaking during the Regional Safety Conference, HegeSeth emphasized that Chinese enterprises They take control over strategic areas and key infrastructure in important sectors of the economy.
– The Chinese army shows too much activity in the western hemisphere. (…) Beijing invests and operates in this region, striving to gain a military advantage and dishonest economic benefits – argued the head of the Pentagon. Announced conclusion of an agreement with Panama on the safety and operation of the Panama Canal, which will enable American war ships “priority of flow and free navigation”.
HegeSeth appealed to the rule of the region's countries for cooperation in order scares of China and counteracting threats from transnational drug cartels and uncontrolled immigration.
Dispute about the Panama Canal. Beijing answers the USA
As the AP agency reminds, the administration of Donald Trump she expressed dissatisfaction Due to the fact that the US, despite the treaty commitment to protect the channel, had to pay fees for the movement of their warships between the Atlantic and peaceful ocean.
Both countries finally agreed to strengthen coordination in the field of safety and will work on the mechanism reimbursement of fees paid by American war ships for sailing through the channel.
Earlier, Panama denied reports of alleged influence of China for the functioning of this waterway.
The Chinese embassy in Panama referred critically to the statement of the US government on the Social Platform X. She stated that Washington uses “blackmail” In order to pursue their own interests, and Panama's decisions regarding trading partners are her “sovereign law (…) and something that the US has no right to interfere in.”