Tue Jan 21 17:24:18 IST 2025: ## Trump’s Inaugural Jolt: Panama Canal Claim Risks Emboldening China

**Washington D.C.** – President Donald Trump’s inaugural address included a startling assertion: the United States should reclaim control of the Panama Canal, alleging Chinese influence over the waterway. This controversial claim, made despite the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties transferring control to Panama, has sparked international concern and raised questions about the consistency of US foreign policy.

Trump’s statement, echoing previous claims about potentially seizing Greenland, has drawn sharp criticism. Experts argue that his rhetoric mirrors the expansionist tactics of China and Russia, undermining US credibility on issues like Taiwan and potentially emboldening Beijing’s increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea.

While Trump asserts that China controls the canal – a claim Panama vehemently denies – Chinese companies do hold significant contracts in the region, including managing ports at the canal’s entrances and undertaking major infrastructure projects. This presence, coupled with Panama’s participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, has fueled Trump’s concerns.

The President’s suggestion of using force to reclaim the canal, coupled with his dismissal of the 1977 treaties as “follies,” has drawn parallels to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s threats against Taiwan. Analysts warn that Trump’s actions may inadvertently legitimize China’s expansionist ambitions and weaken the US’s longstanding calls for restraint from Beijing.

“The message to China and Russia… is that if the US can use force… to take another nation’s sovereign territory, they can do the same for Taiwan and Ukraine,” noted CNN anchor Jim Sciutto. This sentiment was echoed by other commentators who pointed out the hypocrisy of the US employing similar tactics to those it condemns in other nations.

Trump’s claim is not isolated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also recently proposed purchasing the canal, citing concerns about Chinese influence.

While around 70% of ships using the canal are involved in American trade, the current situation presents a complex geopolitical challenge. Trump’s actions, intended to counter China’s growing presence, could instead inadvertently strengthen Beijing’s hand and further destabilize the region.

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