Bill > HRes232

This resolution expresses deep concern about the People's Republic of China's (PRC) increasing influence in Panama, particularly regarding its management of strategic ports and infrastructure. The resolution calls on the Panamanian government to take several actions, including terminating agreements with Chinese state-owned enterprises managing critical infrastructure like the Balboa and Cristobal ports, expelling Chinese officials from these sites, and reaffirming the Panama Canal's neutrality as defined in the 1977 Neutrality Treaty. The resolution urges the United States government to leverage the Neutrality Treaty to monitor threats to the canal, provide support to Panama in reducing its dependence on Chinese entities, and establish collaborative frameworks to restore operational control of the canal. It highlights the historical significance of the Panama Canal, including the United States' substantial investment in its construction and maintenance, and expresses concern that Chinese involvement threatens the canal's security and the broader strategic interests of the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, the resolution encourages regional allies to monitor and counter attempts by authoritarian regimes to gain strategic leverage through economic investments, and directs that copies of the resolution be sent to key government officials in both the United States and Panama.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/232/all-info