Panama Canal chief dismisses Trump’s claims on China, fees

The Panama Canal Authority chief dismissed President-elect Trump’s claims that China is controlling the trade route and criticized his comments about fees.

Ricaurte Vásquez Morales told The Wall Street Journal that Trump’s accusations that China is running the Panama Canal are “unfounded.”

“China has no involvement whatsoever in our operations,” he said.

Vásquez Morales said there are no exceptions to the rules, and he cannot discriminate for China, the U.S. “or anyone else.”

“This will violate the neutrality treaty, international law and it will lead to chaos,” he said.

Trump has repeatedly brought up the idea of the U.S. gaining control of the Panama Canal.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Trump refused to commit to not using the U.S. military to take control of the passageway.

“Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country, it’s being operated by China, China,” Trump said. “And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China.”

The Panama Canal has been under Panamanian control for nearly 25 years under a deal pushed by late President Carter in 1977. In the press conference, Trump argued China is in charge of the canal.

While China has invested heavily in Panama through construction deals and manages two of its five main ports, Vásquez Morales dismissed the idea.

Trump also argued that Panama was looking for $3 billion to repair the canal and that there are higher fees for American shipping and U.S. Navy ships.

Vásquez Morales said the country has not requested any funds from the U.S. for the canal and was unsure what money Trump was referring to, the Journal reported.

He also denied that the canal authority charges U.S. ships higher rates.

Vásquez Morales pointed out that U.S. Navy vessels, in accordance with the treaty, get priority passage through the canal.