Government in general, any government anywhere, is a thing of exquisite comicality to a discerning mind
Unsubstantiated grumblings from the shore of Costaguana
@FrancosGhost@WHAAsstSecty Yes, we are very aware of that here in Panama. The point was that it's a bit hypocritical to accuse China of unjust economic coercion when that's been the US's main strategy in the last 18 months.
@FrancosGhost@WHAAsstSecty What does "working with China mean"? There are five ports around the Panama Canal. Two of them are operated by a Chinese firm since 1997. How did that justify threatening Panamanian sovereignty?
@CarlosASolisT@yassirpurcait@MaribelM63 De acuerdo. Hay muchas empresas panameñas que no temen la transparencia pero sufren por la reputacion de opacidad que intensificó despues de Panama Papers.
Eficiencia y "light touch" sí, opacidad no
@Eduardo_RMCF1@HansMurangaza@shoeing_@ismail_lamie@SecRubio The CK Hutchison contracts ran unimpeded for 27 years. Trump supported the BlackRock takeover of the two ports on the same contract. A week after that deal fell through, the Pan Supreme Court began the process of rescinding the contracts.
That was US weaponizing the law
The Panama Papers redefined investigative journalism, proving that large-scale, cross-border collaboration can expose systems of global corruption that no single newsroom could uncover alone.
Bringing together hundreds of reporters set a new standard for how journalists work together and showed the real-world impact of holding power to account.
@Alexnder_E@rx78meng@SecRubio@WHAAsstSecty Except that would be against the constitution and the canal neutrality treaty that Mulino has been traveling the world trying to shore up
@Blipt_Mind@WHAAsstSecty I agree that China was a corrupting influence on Panama.
The US could have used back channel pressure to get CKH out of the ports.
But the open threat from Trump and Co were dumb. It makes the canal look like a US asset. If China stops using it, it becomes fair game for Iran
@Blipt_Mind@WHAAsstSecty 1) When was it used against US interests?
2) Panama built and financed the expansion of the locks which was crucial for US LNG shipping
3) The US is a signatory of the neutrality treaty, it is not the US's right to seize the canal or station military bases there
The Panama Canal has been safe from attack for 50 years due to its role as a neutral, global good for world commerce. Recasting it as a US asset in "greater north america" only increases the chance of it becoming a target
Rubio's remarks on #Panama are disingenous. The Panama Canal and Panamanian flagged ships have been safe for 25 years.
The Trump administration drew Panama into the conflict. 🧵
China’s decision to detain or otherwise impede Panama-flagged vessels engaged in lawful trade destabilizes supply chains, raises costs, and erodes confidence in the global trading system. The United States stands with Panama against any retaliatory actions against its sovereignty and will always support our partners in the face of bullying.
https://t.co/PMS0KqLWtF
The legal case against the ports only began *after* Blackrock's attempt to buy the ports fell through. The contract was fine until the US didnt get what it wanted.
Lawfare was plan B
@Jo6912142844474@SecRubio 👆this exactly.
And furthermore the canal has been safe from attack for 50 years as a global good for world commerce. Recasting it as a US asset in "greater north america" only increases the chance of it becoming a target