Hours later, the foreign ministry in Beijing echoed his remarks, with its spokeswoman on Tuesday stating the countryโs firm opposition to โeconomic coercion and bullyingโ when asked about an investigation mainland Chinese authorities were reportedly carrying out on the deal.
The canal was funded by Washington in the early 20th century and controlled by American authorities until 1999, when Panama assumed control following an agreement with the US government.
In September 1977, then US president Jimmy Carter and the commander of Panamaโs National Guard, General Omar Torrijos, signed treaties over the canal.
The TorrijosโCarter Treaties guaranteed that the United States retained the permanent right to defend the canal from any threat that might interfere with its continued neutral service to ships of all nations, while Panama would gain control of the waterway after 1999. The US had exercised control of the canal since 1903.
The Post chronicles the development of the ongoing saga.
