...MOREThe security of the Panama Canal Zone and of China’s economic interests against terrorists and other criminal groups will be featured high on the agenda of the Chinese-Panamanian talks now underway in Beijing. The experts Sputnik had talked with also expect a new round of US-Chinese tensions over control of the strategic waterway.Even though the US’ positions in Panama have traditionally been strong, China’s huge trade and investment potential is seen by Washington as a serious threat.
A delegation of senior security and trade officials from Panama led by National Security Minister Alexis Betancourt — the first such diplomatic mission since the two nations established relations nearly two months ago — is now in Beijing for talks with China’s Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun and other security and migration officials.
In an interview with Sputnik China, Chinese Communications Ministry expert Yang Mian said that China, just like Panama, is interested in making the Panama Canal Zone as secure as it takes.
“Panama’s biggest advantage is that it sits on one of the world’s busiest transport arteries. Even though washed by two oceans, the US needs the canal to connect its eastern and western seaboards. This is exactly why the Americans have in the past occupied the Canal Zone. Since Panama took over the canal in 1999, it has turned it into a free-trade zone, and China’s growing economic might has made Beijing the second biggest user of the strategic waterway,” he said.
He added that with Chinese investments being of paramount importance to Panama, trade and other economic cooperation between the two countries is bound to take center stage at the Beijing talks.
“As far as security goes, they will most likely focus on the war on international terror...."
I'm just going to leave this here and go think about stuff.
