‘Nonsense’: Panamanian president dismisses Trump claims China controls Panama Canal | EUROtoday

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President José Raúl Mulino of Panama dismissed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s baseless declare that Chinese troopers are “operating the Panama Canal,” calling it “nonsense.”

In a Christmas Day message on Truth Social, Trump sarcastically wished a merry Christmas to “the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal” and “making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about anything.”

He then claimed the Panamanian authorities is “ripping off” the United States on the Panama Canal.

But Mulino put a cease to the accusation in a press convention on Thursday, saying there isn’t any reality to the declare Chinese troopers are working the canal.

“There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal. For the love of God, you are free, the whole world is free, to visit the canal if you please,” Mulinto stated in a translated speech.

“What [Trump] has said on this issue is nonsense, it does not exist,” he added.

Trump final weekend threatened twice to take over the canal in a submit on Truth Social and at a convention of the conservative Turning Point USA in Phoenix, the place he advised the group he’s ready to take management as a result of he’s indignant about “exorbitant’ use fees.

Mulina said after those threats: “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”

The president-elect’s assault on the canal is the most recent in his collection of complaints about different nations and their relationship with America.

Trump has attacked Mexico and Canada for what he believes are unfair commerce practices and dangerous border insurance policies. He has mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and stated he’d make Canada the 51st state. He has additionally lambasted the European Union for promoting extra merchandise to the U.S. than shopping for from the nation.

But in his newest, extra threatening claims, Trump prompt the U.S. mustn’t solely take over the canal however Greenland, a territory of Denmark, as nicely.

Trump floated the concept of shopping for Denmark – a rustic not on the market – throughout his first administration. In a Truth Social submit final Sunday he insisted that American “ownership and control” of Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for world “security” and “freedom.”

As for the Panama Canal, Mulino denied U.S. vessels are being overcharged to make use of the waterway and emphasised that China performs no position within the canal. A Hong Kong-based agency manages two ports on the Panama Canal’s entrances, however Panama owns and operates the complete canal.

“Look, there are no Chinese on the canal. As simple as that. Neither the Chinese nor any other power are in the channel,” Mulino stated. Any Chinese on the canal are aboard a cruise ship or visiting the canal like different vacationers, he famous

“I reiterate, there is absolutely no Chinese interference or participation in anything that has to do with the Panama Canal,” Mulino stated.