A fake quote attributed to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino, saying that his country would double the tariffs for U.S. warships transiting the Panama Canal and devote the proceeds to women’s reproductive health originated from a parody X account.

The Panama Canal Authority leader denied that China controls the waterway, warning President-elect Trump against ending the Neutrality Treaty.

Over decades, a shift in US military strategy, larger carriers and the growth of commerce on the West Coast deemphasized US involvement.

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

Panama Ports Co is a subsidiary of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Panama Canal chief, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, said giving preferential treatment to one country's ships would "lead to chaos."

As United States President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Monday, he repeated his wishes to acquire the Panama Canal and rename the Gulf of Mexico in his inaugural speech. Trump has spoken about the canal and the Gulf of Mexico previously. On Monday, he signalled he was serious about moving ahead with both those ideas – and soon.

Donald Trump claimed China was operating the canal and "we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back". Panama's president was quick to counter the claims.

President Donald Trump used his inaugural address to repeat his threat to take back the Panama Canal over possible China influence.

Such proposals are legally impossible and operationally unnecessary. Examining the reality of this vital artery of global trade makes this very clear.

The new Panamanian ambassador was given strict instructions as he prepared to meet then-President Donald Trump one day in 2019: Do not engage him in any substantive discussion of critical issues.