The Chinese Embassy in Panama on Tuesday published a press release on Ambassador Xu Xueyuan’s recent meeting with Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, and Ilya Espino de Marotta,

China has long eyed the Panama Canal as a major competitor in global trade, and with the Nicaragua Canal project, it seemed ready to build a new route between the Pacific and Atlantic. This ambitious plan,

China has warned that it may block the sale of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison's international ports, including one on either end of the Panama Canal, to a United States-linked consortium unless China's state-owned shipping giant, COSCO, is included in the agreement.

The deal hands over more than 40 global ports owned by Hong Kong business magnate Li Ka-Shing to US asset manager BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company.

PANAMA CITY — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Panama Canal faces ongoing threats from China but that together the United States and Panama will keep it secure.