suggesting a military presence...Is the Panama Canal really controlled by China?

[Anchor]
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pressure on the Panama Canal is continuing.

China is even claiming to have taken control of the Panama Canal,

What will happen to the Panama Canal in the future?

Reporter Kwon Young-hee reports.

[Reporter]
Trump paid high tolls for ostensibly wanting to have control of the Panama Canal.

I will not rule out the use of military force. The sea ripples are growing.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President-elect] They charge more for our ships. They charged more for our navy to pass through.]

However, canal tolls are constant according to the weight and type of all ships, regardless of nationality.

For this reason, analysts say Trump's plan is to keep China in check.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President-elect] The Panama Canal is very important for the United States. It's run by China. We handed over the Panama Canal to Panama. I didn't give it to China.]

China cannot directly control the Panama Canal, but it is true that it is investing heavily in major ports and facilities.

Hong Kong company CK Hutchison manages two ports at the canal's entrance, which was approved by the Panama government in 2021 and has been extended by 25 years.

China has been trying to seize the "U.S. backyard" Latin America to sway the U.S.-led international order and gain a military advantage by securing bases such as major ports.

The U.S. is concerned that China has data from Panama Canal-passed ships and could impose controls for a variety of reasons.

However, it is virtually impossible for the United States to regain control of the Panama Canal due to these problems.

[Ricarte Vazquez / Chief Executive Officer of the Canal of Panama: Everyone should pass equally according to the same rules. When the exception process begins during the Panama Canal passage and allocation of operational rights, Pandora's box opens and the end is unknown.]

The U.S. is likely to eventually expand its influence by involving a large number of U.S. companies in the operation of the Panama Canal and related logistics businesses.

If this happens, the Panama Canal is expected to become another battleground for U.S.-China hegemony.

I'm YTN's Kwon Younghee.

Edit
video: Han Kyung-hee