Rubio demanded Panama ‘influence of China on the canal’

US State Secretary Marco Rubio has demanded that the Panama should “immediately” change the “influence and control” of China over the Panama Panama Canal.

America’s top diplomat said that Panama should work or America will take necessary measures to protect its rights under a treaty between the two countries.

The warning follows the fast of President Donald Trump, which withdraws a meeting and a meeting between the Orthodox President of Panama, Rubio and Jose Raul Mulino in Panama City on Sunday.

Both people appeared emerging from their two-hour meeting with different interpretations.

Mulino told reporters that they did not see a serious threat of American military force to seize the canal, saying that he had proposed a technical level dialogue with the US so that Mr. Trump’s concerns about the Chinese influence Can be overcome.

However, Trump’s pledge to withdraw the canal has expressed a significant reaction to the Panama. On Friday, protesters burnt effigies of Trump and Rubio in Panama City.

The riot police went to another crowd of protesters, tearing gas firing and wrestling people. The struggles were on a small scale, but resistance to the attitude of the US President is widely felt.

On Thursday, Mulino said that the issue of ownership of the canal would not be for discussion with Rubio.

He said, “I cannot talk or even open the conversation process about the canal. It is seal, the canal belongs to Panama,” he said.

Mr. Trump’s comment about the canal A baseless claim includes Chinese soldiers are operating it. He also said that American ships were incorrectly charged compared to others, despite the fact that such practice would be illegal under the treaty agreements.

The waterway is actually owned and operated by the Panamanian government under a neutrality treaty signed with the US decades ago. However, Chinese companies have invested heavy in ports and terminals near the canal. A Hong Kong -based company runs two out of about five ports of its entrances.

But President Trump’s muscle approach – even refusing military action to take the canal – has been strongly a reaction to patriotism in the small strategic nation.

Mari, a resident of Panama City, says, “This is ridiculous, who asked not to publish his surname.

“There is a treaty that he has to respect, and there is nothing in the treaty that we can be run by Chinese,” he told the BBC, pointing out that American ports and cities have Chinese investment.

The Panama cap and souvenirs surrounded by tourists and stalls, Mari, reported that many residents have strong memories of the canal’s American control and do not want to return.

The United States and Panama signed a treaty in 1979, began a handover process, which saw that Panama takes full control of the canal in 1999.

“We could not cross the canal area without arresting all American rules. The minutes you stepped on that border, you were in the United States,” Mari said.

“We had no right within our country, and we will not keep it with him again … we are very humiliated by the words (Trump).”

For some people, Trump’s refusal to use the use of military force has also led to doubt and fear. It highlights the memories of the Panama’s invasion of the 1989 American invasion, reflecting the real ruler General Manual Noriaga, a conflict that lasted for several weeks and rapidly overwhelmed the Panamanian forces.

Former Panama Congress Edwin Cabarera said, “I was the political leader of the opposition when Noriega said that he was going to kill all the leaders of the opposition if America had attacked,” the Panama Congress was remembering Edwin Cabrera, of the canal Speaking to the BBC with the lock of Pacific entry. ,

He told the BBC, “I heard bombs and started seeing people dying … President Trump and Rubio have only stopped saying that they will attack us.” “I would not like to live again in the 21st century, remove Imperial experience. Panama is between two powers, the war between the United States and China, while we are looking at the sky.”

Marco Rubio is the first Hispanic Secretary in the state and is known for some leaders of the region and his Hawkish positions on China. While Panama works closely with the US on many issues, Shri Rubio’s visit means to indicate the intolerance of the administration countries, which sees America as its own backyard.

In Panama, he claims that China may eventually use its interests at ports to block American traders or war ships in a struggle or trade war.

“If China wanted to disrupt traffic in the Panama Canal, they could. Could, “Mr. Rubio said on Fox News last week.

Despite the huge support among ordinary panaminians for the canal’s own country’s ownership, some suspect their own leadership, not filtering through enough ordinary Panamanis while arguing with the waterway.

Andre Hell, a hotel worker of the historic center of Panama City, says, “What do you see here – the United States and Donald Trump want to withdraw the canal – which we call the cause and influence.”

“They are not administering the Panama Canal properly … no Panamanis have () benefits,” he said.