Soft offshore balancing at the canal: China's strategic influence in Panama

2026/03/12 by Klaas Dykmann · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #International Development and Aid #Border Security and International Relations #Cuban History and Society

paper · doi:10.1093/ia/iiag057

openalex publication_date 2026/03/12 · openalex created_date 2026/07/09 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Abstract This article examines whether China's expanding presence constitutes control over the Panama Canal—an allegation made by United States President Donald Trump in 2025 and publicly denied by both Panama and China. The article's hypothesis is that China's activities in Panama constitute a soft offshore balancing strategy to constrain US regional dominance through non-military instruments. Despite recent scaling back in Panama, China's influence networks remain structurally embedded. The case of Panama illustrates how soft offshore balancing enables great powers to shape regional alignments through long-term, non-military strategies.

Discussions

• How has China embedded long-term leverage across key sectors in Panama while avoiding confrontation with the US? Read Klaas Dykmann’s latest article to learn more: https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiag057 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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