BEIJING: China on Friday (Feb 7) mentioned it “regrets” Panama’s decision to withdraw from Beijing’s Belt and Road infrastructure programme after the Latin American nation ended its participation within the mission in a concession to Washington.
“Beijing regrets Panama’s resolution,” overseas ministry spokesman Lin Jian mentioned, urging Panama to “contemplate the broader bilateral relationship and the long-term pursuits of each nations” and “resist exterior interference”.
Since successful the US election in November, President Donald Trump has refused to rule out the use of force to seize the canal constructed by Washington over a century in the past and later handed over to Panama.
Round 40 per cent of US container visitors passes by way of the slender physique of water linking the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.
Past the tolls paid, Washington has appeared mainly involved about Chinese investment in the 80km long canal, which handles 5 per cent of world maritime commerce.
The nation’s President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday confirmed that Panama had pulled out of the Belt and Highway Initiative (BRI) infrastructure programme.
