CNN's Jim Acosta wondered aloud whether Donald Trump's threats to take the Panama Canal, by force if necessary, sent a dangerous message to U.S. adversaries like China.
China has long threatened to invade the disputed territory of Taiwan, just as Russia did with Crimea and is trying to do with Ukraine.
During his inaugural speech Monday, Trump claimed, "We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form. And that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back."
Acosta pondered on Tuesday's morning show, "If the president can say, 'We're going to go take the Panama Canal,' I mean, couldn't China say, 'Okay, well, then, I guess that means we can take Taiwan?'"
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Rep. Jim Hines (D-CT) responded, "Look, I think China is sophisticated enough to see exactly what President Trump is doing, which is a game of distraction, away from the issues that really matter to the American people."
Hines continued, "I look at polling every once in a while and I can tell you that Panama or the name of Mount Denali, is not on the top 50 list of American concerns. So, the Chinese understand that this is a distraction mechanism. And, I think they're probably happy that now Panama, which is a critical ally — we've got military in Panama, the Canal is really pretty important to us — now they've been subjected to, as you pointed out, a series of lies — that we've been treated badly, that the Chinese run — absolute lies. and the Chinese are saying, 'You know what? The president Trump is gratuitously, for no apparent reason, damaging American relationships with critical allies. Pop the champagne, folks in Beijing!' That's what they're thinking."
CNN.com estimated that it would take around 90,000 U.S. troops to take the Panama Canal by force, and such an operation would require a congressional resolution in order to proceed. It would also disrupt global trade, since "around 6% of global trade passes through the canal."