The president-elect inaccurately said that Chinese soldiers operate the Panama Canal. But China’s strategic positions in shipping worry Washington officials.The New York Times reports that President-elect Donald J. Trump made a false claim on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that Chinese soldiers were operating the Panama Canal. However, this claim was quickly disputed by President José Raúl Mulino of Panama, who stated that there were no Chinese soldiers involved in the operation of the canal. While Mr. Trump’s statement was inaccurate, it highlights the growing concern among U.S. officials about the influence of Chinese companies and the Chinese government in global shipping and port operations. China’s heavy investments in building ports around the world, coupled with their status as the world’s biggest exporter, has given them significant control over the movement of goods and strategic positions from which to monitor other countries’ activities. Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Trump-Vance transition team, expressed concern over Chinese control of the Panama Canal, stating that it poses a national security threat to the U.S.
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