President-elect Donald Trump is openly discussing aspirations for U.S. territorial expansion, including taking over the Panama Canal. Trump has yet to specify how he will demand the return of the state-run canal to the U.S. “We will never, never let it fall into the wrong hands.” For many Chinese readers, the Panama Canal sounds familiar but remains unknown. Why does Trump think the U.S. can “retake” the canal? Did it ever belong to the U.S.? What’s the history of the canal, and is it true China has a big influence in the country? VOA Mandarin explains.
