US, China Clash Over Panama Canal Influence at UN Security Council

At a recent United Nations Security Council meeting chaired by Panama's President José Raúl Mulino, the United States and China clashed over influence in the Panama Canal, with the U.S. warning that China's expanding role poses risks to Panama, the U.S., and global trade security. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea accused China of exerting outsized influence over critical Panama Canal infrastructure, framing it as a threat to maritime security, while China's ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, countered by condemning these claims as baseless attacks intended to justify U.S. attempts to control the canal. Fu emphasized China's respect for Panama's sovereignty and the canal's permanent neutrality, accusing the U.S. of disrupting peace in the South China Sea through military deployments and unilateral actions, and highlighting Washington's failure to join the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The debate also touched on broader maritime security concerns, including threats from piracy and cybercrime targeting ports. The dispute reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions, with U.S. President Donald Trump asserting without evidence that China secretly controls the canal and threatening to reclaim it, while China calls on the U.S. to cease spreading rumors and focus on responsible global conduct. Panama's role as canal owner and meeting chair underscored its commitment to neutrality and smooth operation amid the U.S.-China rivalry.