President José Raúl Mulino assured on the morning of this Thursday, April 30, that the Panamanian State acted in accordance with the law by assuming control of the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal, administered until February by Panama Ports Company, after the end of the law contract when it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Justice, and rejected the existence of a direct conflict with the People’s Republic of China.
During his weekly Thursday conference held in the construction area of the new Children’s Hospital, Mulino explained that the decision to occupy the port terminals responded to the expiration of the legal contract and the need to guarantee the continuity of operations in a strategic activity for the country.
“What had to be done based on Panamanian law was done. The contract ended and Panama had to assume control of those two ports immediately,” he indicated.
Mulino highlighted that the Government prepared for a year for different scenarios before executing the measureand stressed that Currently the ports operate normally, without delays or disruptions.
The president was emphatic in pointing out that the situation should not be interpreted as a bilateral problem with China, but as part of a broader international context.
“I cannot say that Panama has problems with China. This responds to a situation that some do not want to understand and that they try to unfairly attribute to us,” he stated.
In that sense, he explained that The case is linked to tensions between the United States and China, and that Panama has been left in the middle of that scenario due to the strategic relevance of its ports.
Mulino revealed that he received an official communication from the Chinese ambassador to Panama, Xu Xueyuanwhich recognizes that the controversy is being heard in arbitration courts in New York.
According to the president, both the company and the Panamanian State are presenting their arguments and evidence in the international legal process.
“I am glad that this message is accompanied by the intention of having a calmer relationship,” he said.
The president reiterated that his administration has no interest in escalating the situation and that he trusts in legal mechanisms to resolve the dispute.
“The Government did not act by political decision, but because the contract ended. We cannot maintain an operation of this magnitude without legal support,” he said.
Mulino insisted that Panama will defend its legal position before the arbitration tribunals, while seeking to maintain stable relations with China.
