Panama Leader Refutes Trump’s Claim of Chinese Meddling in Canal

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said China has no stake in the Panama Canal and US warships pay the same toll rates as other nations, pushing back against Donald Trump’s threats over the key waterway.

Trump’s remarks alleging growing influence from the world’s second-largest economy over the canal may be due to “geopolitical fears that might be valid from their perspective, but in terms of Panama, have absolutely no veracity,” Mulino said at a Thursday press conference.

“There is absolutely no Chinese interference or involvement in anything that has to do with the Panama Canal,” Mulino said. “There are ...