Trump Accuses Panama of Hiding Evidence That China Controls Panama Canal, Claims Most of its Signs Are in Mandarin

President Donald Trump has accused Panama of attempting to conceal evidence that China exerts control over the Panama Canal as he continues to push the possibility of the U.S. "retaking" control of the waterway.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that 64% of the signs in the canal zone were in Mandarin and that Panama was rapidly removing them in response to scrutiny. "Panama is trying at great speed to eliminate the 64% of signs written in Chinese. They are all over the zone because China controls the Panama Canal. PANAMA WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS!" Trump wrote, attaching a photo of a Bank of China advertisement near the canal. The president did not provide a source for his assertions.

The accusation takes place during the same week that newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Panama, his first international trip since assuming the role. While immigration is expected to be a key topic of discussion during the visit, the issue of alleged Chinese influence over the canal is also expected to be addressed.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that Panama ceded control of the canal to China and has floated the possibility of the U.S. "retaking" control of it. This stance has drawn criticism from Panamanian officials, who reject the claim and emphasize Panama's sovereignty over the canal, which was transferred from the United States to Panama on December 31, 1999, under the terms of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

Concerns over China's role in Panama were raised by Louis Sola, Trump's recently appointed chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday.

Sola expressed alarm over reports that some Chinese companies receive reimbursements for canal transit fees, while American businesses do not. "I find the entire practice alarming, that canal tolls would be refunded for any reason whatsoever, especially when Panama has a neutrality contract or neutrality clause in their treaty," he said.

Sola also pointed to China's exclusive control over key ports near the canal. Hutchison Ports PPC, a Hong Kong-based company, operates both the Port of Cristobal on the Atlantic side and the Port of Balboa on the Pacific side. "After not paying for 20 years, they renewed the contract and now pay $7 million a year for both ports," he explained. "These assets are definitely worth $5 billion to $7 billion, so the people of Panama are not getting anything for these two ports to be operating there."

Trump has also accused Panama of imposing excessive tolls on U.S. businesses. The Panama Canal Authority recently raised its fees, increasing the cost of transiting the waterway to over $1 million per vessel in some cases.

Panama's President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's claims, asserting at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the canal belongs solely to Panama. "We reject in its entirety everything that Mr. Trump has said. First, because it is false, and second because the Panama Canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to Panama," Mulino said.