Panama Uncle believes for the US official vessel through the free canal

“I completely rejected the information that appeared yesterday,” Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said at a press conference on February 6, mentioning the post of the US State Department on social networks that the water service ship This will be moved for free through Panama canal.

President Mulino expressed “completely unexpected” before the statement from the US State Department and asked the US Ambassador to Panama to clarify the issue. He described Washington’s move as “unacceptable” and completely opposed “bilateral relations based on lies”.

Panama canal management agency previously affirmed that “not making any changes” related to fees applied to US official ships, emphasizing ready to dialogue with Washington on this issue.

The US State Department has not commented on information.

Panama canal is 82 km long, is the arterial waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic, significantly shortening the journey between the two areas and allowing boats not to cross the southernmost South American pole. About 5% of the global maritime flow goes through Panama canal each year.

The United States has built Panama canal and territorial management around this canal for decades. The US Government handed over the entire right to manage the canal to Panama in 1999, after the time the two sides co -managed.

Panama canal is an important route that many naval ships, official ships and US cargo ships pass. 40% of American container flow goes through this canal.

In the inauguration speech on January 20, President Donald Trump threatened to regain control of Panama canal. He did not rule out the ability to use force for Panama, sparking many criticisms from both allies and rivals Washington in Latin America.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on February 1 visited Panama and met with President Mulino. Rubio emphasized that China’s presence in Panama canal is a threat to this important waterway and violates the US -Panama Treaty.

Panama resolutely denied Trump’s allegations that China was given the role of operating the canal. In a move to alleviate US concerns, President Mulino said Panama would not continue to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Infrastructure Construction Program initiated by China.

President Trump and his Mulino counterpart planned to discuss the canal issue on February 7.

Nhu Tam (Theo ABC News, Reuters)