Tom Bateman

believes that Panama is allowing China's influence and control over the canal and basically says if they don't take immediate measures to change that, that the U.S. will take necessary measures, as they put it, to protect their rights. in a treaty that was signed decades ago between the U.S. and Panama, which basically says control of the Panama Canal by the Panamanians has to remain neutral.

believes that Panama is allowing China's influence and control over the canal and basically says if they don't take immediate measures to change that, that the U.S. will take necessary measures, as they put it, to protect their rights. in a treaty that was signed decades ago between the U.S. and Panama, which basically says control of the Panama Canal by the Panamanians has to remain neutral.

believes that Panama is allowing China's influence and control over the canal and basically says if they don't take immediate measures to change that, that the U.S. will take necessary measures, as they put it, to protect their rights. in a treaty that was signed decades ago between the U.S. and Panama, which basically says control of the Panama Canal by the Panamanians has to remain neutral.

So language, I think, that will be seen by most Panamanians as being threatening from the U.S. here and really deepening this diplomatic standoff, as I say, between these two countries.

So language, I think, that will be seen by most Panamanians as being threatening from the U.S. here and really deepening this diplomatic standoff, as I say, between these two countries.

So language, I think, that will be seen by most Panamanians as being threatening from the U.S. here and really deepening this diplomatic standoff, as I say, between these two countries.

He's made some concessions over the months, really ever since Donald Trump was elected in November, and it became clear that this may become a point of tension. We've seen the Panamanians start to ease off some of the contracts, or at least the proposed investments that they had from Chinese firms in some infrastructure here in Panama.

He's made some concessions over the months, really ever since Donald Trump was elected in November, and it became clear that this may become a point of tension. We've seen the Panamanians start to ease off some of the contracts, or at least the proposed investments that they had from Chinese firms in some infrastructure here in Panama.

He's made some concessions over the months, really ever since Donald Trump was elected in November, and it became clear that this may become a point of tension. We've seen the Panamanians start to ease off some of the contracts, or at least the proposed investments that they had from Chinese firms in some infrastructure here in Panama.

But the bigger issue about what the US alleges is Chinese control over the canal, which the Panamanians completely reject. They say this is a complete misinterpretation of the fact that a Hong Kong-based company has a majority control of two of the five ports close to the canal. They say that the US is basically turning this into an issue, which they say it is not.

But the bigger issue about what the US alleges is Chinese control over the canal, which the Panamanians completely reject. They say this is a complete misinterpretation of the fact that a Hong Kong-based company has a majority control of two of the five ports close to the canal. They say that the US is basically turning this into an issue, which they say it is not.

But the bigger issue about what the US alleges is Chinese control over the canal, which the Panamanians completely reject. They say this is a complete misinterpretation of the fact that a Hong Kong-based company has a majority control of two of the five ports close to the canal. They say that the US is basically turning this into an issue, which they say it is not.

The American position is that Beijing could sort of close the canal in the event of a trade war.

The American position is that Beijing could sort of close the canal in the event of a trade war.

The American position is that Beijing could sort of close the canal in the event of a trade war.

Tom Bateman!

Tom Bateman!

Protesters in Panama City burned effigies of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. Elsewhere, riot police moved in on a crowd, firing tear gas and wrestling demonstrators away.

Protesters in Panama City burned effigies of Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. Elsewhere, riot police moved in on a crowd, firing tear gas and wrestling demonstrators away.

The clashes in the run-up to Mr Rubio's visit were small-scale, some led by a well-known union leader, but the resistance to Mr Trump's sudden policy pronouncements for Panama is broad, including from its conservative president, José Raúl Molino. For weeks now, including at his inauguration, President Trump has said he wants America to take back the Panama Canal.