Evan Ellis article - Chinese advances in Panama and the strategicimplications for the region.

Dear Colleague:

I hope this email finds you well.  As the Chinese military hospital ship "Peace Arc" visits Venezuela en route to Grenada and Ecuador, I am writing to share my new work on PRC activities in Panama and the strategic implications for the US and the region.

The enclosed work is based on conversations with Panamanian businessmen, academics, and others during my just completed research trip to Panama.  The article discusses the large number of Chinese investments and projects currently underway in the country, in sectors  from ports and shipping, to banking, construction, electricity, mining, and agriculture, including several in which the circumstances of the award, and/or economic logic is questionable.   It argues that the principal strategic challenge presented by the significant and rapid Chinese advance in Panama is not principally military, but through the ability of the PRC to leverage the strong economic and political position it is building in the country, as a regional hub for logistics, commerce and finance, to more rapidly extend its economic position and associated political influence.

As always, the article is included with this email as a PDF file, and is also available at Global Americans, which published it:

https://theglobalamericans.org/2018/09/the-evolution-of-panama-prc-relations-since-recognition-and-their-strategic-implications-for-the-u-s-and-the-region/

Thank you as always for the opportunity to continue in touch through this forum...

Respectfully,

Evan Ellis

Dr. R. Evan Ellis

Research Professor of Latin American Studies U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute

47 Ashburn Drive

Carlisle, PA 17013

Tel: (717) 245-4085

Cell: (703) 328-7770

Fax: (717) 245-3820