Tabita Rosendal, PhD Candidate at the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, has been interviewed for the leading newspapers Dagens Nyheter (Sweden) and Expresso (Portugal) about President Trump's claims that China controls the Panama Canal. In the interviews, Tabita explains the role of CK Hutchison Port Holdings in the Port of Balboa and the Port of Cristobal and outlines the potential for China to exert influence through the 2020 National Security Law. She further emphasizes the potential for Trump's "muscular approach," including threats of military intervention and adoption or increases of tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China, to markedly impact global trade patterns and contribute to geopolitical tensions. Finally, she argues that at the end of the day, the Panamanian government and people will be impacted the most by Trump's exaggerated allegations and that other countries with Chinese investments within and without the Belt and Road Initiative will likely face similar challenges and dilemmas in the coming years.
Tabita Rosendal has been interviewed for Dagens Nyheter and Expresso about China's role in the Panama Canal
President Trump's allegations of Chinese influence in Panama will likely lead to tensions, changes in global trade, and challenges for the Panamanian government and public