Beijing’s efforts to expand its reach in the country have hit several obstacles, in part because of American pressure.

China dominates the global market for “rare earth” minerals crucial for everything from stealth jets to smartphones.

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s threat to take back the Panama Canal may be posturing, but it could dampen the Panamanian government’s wish to broaden relations with the United States, analysts say.

Trump’s canal canard obscures a truth: Panama just wants to run its shipping passage without interference from China or the U.S. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has in recent days repeatedly denounced what he sees as China’s outsized influence on the Panama Canal – the crucial maritime passageway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Trump's claim that Chinese soldiers exercise authority over the Panama Canal is inaccurate, but his assertion that China manipulates the use of the passage is a long-held U.S. concern.

Panama is part of a bigger piece of real estate that Mr Trump has his eye on. He wants to influence territory and infrastructure close to the United States. He views Mexico as a source of unwanted migration,

The Panama Canal Authority leader denied that China controls the waterway, warning President-elect Trump against ending the Neutrality Treaty.

CSIS Americas Program director Ryan C. Berg and Andrew Sanders make the case for increased U.S. engagement with Panama to mitigate strategic vulnerabilities presented by insecurity, irregular migration,

The US is the biggest user of the Canal, but influence on its operations is dispersed among contracts with bidders internationally.

US president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his expansionist agenda, citing China as a security threat and refusing to rule out military action or economic pressure to reclaim the Panama Canal and acquire Greenland from Denmark.

Ten years ago, I commanded a 60-man counter-narcotics training mission for the Marines to the Panama Canal Zone. Over the last two years, I served on the Select Committee on China in Congress.