Panama’s president hits back after China threat in canal ports row

President Mulino responds to China, insists his country upholds the rule of law and and has an independent court system.

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Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino has rejected China’s threat to make the Central American country pay a “heavy price” after a Hong Kong company was evicted from two ports on the strategic Panama Canal amid pressure from United States President Donald Trump.

Writing on social media on Wednesday, President Mulino said he “strongly” rejected the Chinese government’s threat against his country, which followed after Panama’s Supreme Court invalidated a contract that had allowed the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to operate two ports on the canal.