Panama president says US Embassy threatened to cancel visas over ties to China
PANAMA CITY (AP) — President of Panama José Raúl Mulino A U.S. Embassy insider is threatening to revoke the visas of Panamanian officials as the Trump administration pressures Panama to limit its ties with China, a U.S. embassy official said Thursday.
Responding to a question at his weekly news conference, Mulino said without providing evidence that an official at the US Embassy “threatened to withhold a visa” that such actions “are not consistent with the good relations that I wish to maintain with the United States.” He did not name the official.
U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera said Thursday that “a visa is a privilege, not a right.”
He was referring to a US policy announced by the State Department in September that would impose visa restrictions on Central American citizens acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, with the aim of undermining the rule of law in the region. “We revoke and deny visas in accordance with our laws and regulations, regardless of the individual’s occupation or position in government.”
However, in September, the US State Department stated in a statement that the US was determined to counter China’s influence in Central America. restrict visas For those who maintain relations with the Chinese Communist Party or undermine democracy in the region on behalf of China.
Trump administration earlier this week Visas of 6 foreigners were canceled Admitted by US officials to have made sarcastic comments or downplayed assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
Similar cases have recently emerged in the region. In April, former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias said the United States had canceled his visa. In July, Vanessa CastroThe vice president of the Costa Rican Congress said the US Embassy told him that the US had revoked his visa, citing alleged contact with the Chinese Communist Party.
Panama has become particularly sensitive on this issue US-China tension Because of the strategically important Panama Canal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his first foreign trip as the US’s top diplomat in February, visiting Panama and calling on Panama. Reduce China’s influence immediately on the canal. Panama has vehemently denied Chinese influence on canal operations, but has acknowledged U.S. pressure on the Hong Kong-based company that operates ports at both ends of the canal to sell its concession to a U.S. consortium.
Mulino said Panama would maintain the canal’s neutrality.
“They are free to give and take visas to anyone they want, but they don’t threaten that I will take the visa away if you don’t do something,” Mulino said Thursday. He noted that the core issue — the conflict between the United States and China — “does not involve Panama.”
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