Panama acted like China could do nothing. Raided the office, seized the concession, tore up 30 years of legal certainty, and thought Washington’s applause was a substitute for consequences. Now it’s crying to the US for “support.” That’s the whole joke. When they thought China would absorb the humiliation quietly, they called it sovereignty. When China responded with pressure, suddenly it became “bullying.” No. This is just the bill arriving. And that bill matters far beyond Panama. If one Belt and Road asset can be grabbed under US pressure without real cost, every opportunist in the system starts taking notes. That is exactly why China cannot let this pass cheaply. They called it sovereignty when they were grabbing. They call it bullying when the consequences begin.
