PNN – In a note, China’s “Global Times” newspaper addressed Panama’s stance against the recent comments of US President-elect “Donald Trump” about withdrawing the management of the Panama Canal from this country and praised the response of the Panamanian government: The world has passed the era of unilateral domination, and efforts to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) through hegemonic methods are no longer viable and sustainable.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, as reported by the Global Times: The world is in a complex and interconnected stage where big and small countries express their sovereignty and demand respect.
According to this Chinese media, although Panama is a small country, it is of strategic importance, and this issue has allowed the president of this country, Jose Raul Molino, to confront the recent statements of the next American president “with considerable courage”.
The Global Times argues that “the world is no longer a boxing ring where brute force determines the winner.”
In addition to the vital artery of world trade, the Panama Canal for this Latin American country is a symbol of sovereignty that Panama gained with great effort. Since the canal came under Panamanian control, the country has managed it efficiently and professionally, demonstrating its ability to run its own affairs without outside interference.
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In criticizing Trump’s approach, Global Times emphasizes: Trump’s words ignore decades of history and international consensus, according to which Panama’s legal control over the canal is recognized. Such American rhetoric harks back to a bygone era in which the United States could unilaterally impose its will on smaller nations. In a world that has transcended simple dichotomies of power and dominance, Trump’s comments are also a stark reminder of how deeply entrenched some American politicians are in an outdated worldview.
The author of this Chinese media believes that the effort to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) through hegemonic practices is neither viable nor sustainable.
The world has passed the era of unilateral domination. Today, even small countries like Panama can assert their rights and demand respect on the world stage. This is not because they have military or economic power comparable to the United States, but because the international system has evolved to value sovereignty, cooperation, and mutual respect.
In response to Trump’s claims, the President of Panama announced that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belongs to this country and will continue to do so, and denied reports about China’s involvement in the canal’s activities.
The Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, was opened in 1914. This canal was created by the United States and its control was transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999.
The Panama Canal was entrusted to this Central American country based on the 1977 agreement signed by former US Democratic President Jimmy Carter, which included the neutrality of the canal and its access to world trade. In 1999, Panama took full control of this trade passage.