Global Economy
global economy
Global economy
Advert
Supported by
Beijing’s efforts to expand its influence in the country have faced several obstacles due to American pressure.
By Vivian Wang
Reporting from Beijing
There has been talk of a high-speed railway line that China would build in Panama. A new metro line in Panama City. A container port.
China has worked for years to build ties and exert influence in Panama, as part of its broader ambition to expand its presence in Latin America. This effort has had some successes, but also many setbacks.
In 2017, China won a first victory when Panama broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the autonomous island that China claims as its territory, and instead identified Beijing. Panama is one of the few countries in the world that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign state.
The following year, Panama became the first Latin American country to sign up for the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s flagship global infrastructure program, which aims to increase China’s geopolitical influence and counter American influence. .
A flurry of ambitious promises followed. China proposed to build a 250-mile high-speed rail line from Panama City, the capital, toward the western border with Costa Rica. It offered to help build a new subway line in Panama City. A consortium of Chinese companies, led by the conglomerate Landbridge, began developing a container port that was promised to be Panama’s most modern one.
A Chinese state-owned company also won a $1.4 billion contract to build a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal. Eventually, the two countries said they would negotiate a free-trade agreement.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Allow JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we determine access. If you’re in gamer mode, exit and log into your Times account or subscribe to the full Times.
Thank you for your patience while we determine access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement