Earlier, Trump called for the US to regain control of the waterway if it is treated unfairly. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the canal's director, Vazquez Morales, called the accusations “baseless.”
Reported by UNN with reference to ORF and WSJ.
Ricarte Vázquez Morales , director of the Panama Canal Authority, has rejected US President-elect Donald Trump's claim that China controls the important waterway. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Vázquez Morales called the allegations “baseless” and emphasized that China plays no role in the operation of the canal.
He also criticized Trump's proposal to offer preferential tariffs for American ships, warning that this would violate international treaties that guarantee the neutrality of the canal.
“Rules are rules,” Vazquez Morales said, adding that such a policy would lead to legal disputes and ‘chaos’ in global trade.
Context
On Tuesday, Trump said the Panama Canal is vital to the United States. He called for the return of control of the waterway to the United States if it is not treated fairly, and called the Panama Canal transit fee “very unfair.” Trump did not rule out the use of the military to take control of the canal.
Reference
The canal, one of the world's most important trade routes, was built by the United States in the early 20th century and controlled for a long time before administration gradually shifted to Panama. It connects the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
Today's canal fees are considered market-based. There are no rules that give the United States special rights solely because of its historical role as a developer.