The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on a visit to five countries in Central America, including Panama. A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department stated that Rubio’s trip to Central America is aimed at countering the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Secretary of State Rubio is scheduled to begin his first official visit since taking office this week, with destinations including Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce informed Fox Business Channel on Tuesday that the purpose of this visit is partly to counter the influence of China.
When asked if Rubio would be setting rules in the Panama Canal issue, Bruce responded, “This is not about setting rules. I think it’s very clear that this is about developing relationships… It’s not about dictating to other countries, but rather making it clear that the partnerships established with the United States are reliable and mutually beneficial.”
Former President Trump has been pushing for the “recovery” of the Panama Canal, believing that Panama has violated the neutrality commitment made when the Canal was transferred to Panama in 1999.
Trump highlighted two key issues in his inaugural speech: the risks of China improperly using or obstructing passage through the Canal, and the high transit costs.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing titled “Costs and Foreign Influence” to examine the operation of the Panama Canal and its impact on U.S. trade and national security.
Bipartisan senators expressed concerns about the management of the Panama Canal and cited corruption allegations, including Panama granting the non-competitive port concession to Hutchison Ports PPC, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Ports Holdings based in Hong Kong.
Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and a Republican, pointed out during the hearing that a Chinese company is constructing a bridge spanning the Canal and controlling container ports on both ends. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the Canal without warning, while the ports allow China to monitor and control movements at any time, posing a serious national security risk to the United States.
Senator Cruz stated, “Contracts won by Chinese companies often lack fair competition, as seen with the notorious ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ coming to Panama. The CCP frequently engages in ‘debt trap diplomacy’ to achieve economic and political coercion. In Panama, it appears to have also exploited simple corruption.”