The U.S. wants to limit China's influence on the Panama Canal

On Sunday, Rubio told president Panama Raul Mulino that the position quo on the Panama Canal and Chinese influences in the area was unacceptable. "Secretary Rubio made it clear that the current state of affairs is unacceptable and that in the absence of immediate changes, the United States will be required to take the measures essential to defend its rights under the Treaty," the State Department reported. [As AP News says](https://apnews.com/article/panama-rubio-trump-canal-mulino-illegal-immigration-f159e218e66812bc0e462d8fb8bb5b5f), president Mulino said Panama would not renew the agreement with the Chinese Belt and way Initiative erstwhile it expires.