Hegseth on Countering China: ‘We’ve Been Sort Of Asleep At The Wheel’
Fresh from a diplomatic mission to Panama, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leveled sharp criticism at China on Sunday, accusing Beijing of attempting to gain control of the strategically vital Panama Canal.
"The communist Chinese want to control politicians," Hegseth said during a Fox News interview. "They’re building infrastructure projects. They want to surveil. They want to take that canal. President Trump says, not on our watch, and we’re fighting back."
Hegseth argued that the U.S. had long ignored the growing Chinese influence in the region, saying America had been "asleep at the wheel."
The Pentagon recently celebrated several accomplishments from Hegseth’s Panama trip, including a joint declaration allowing U.S. naval and auxiliary vessels priority passage—“first and free”—through the canal. The U.S. and Panama also agreed to collaborate more closely on security operations.
Hegseth pointed to Panama’s formal withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a sign of growing trust and cooperation between the two nations. He also praised former President Trump for working to achieve a peaceful resolution with Iran regarding its nuclear ambitions, though he cautioned that more forceful action may follow if diplomacy fails.
“President Trump said in his State of the Union address China has too much influence over the Panama Canal, and America’s going to take it back,” Hegseth noted. “That’s exactly what I was charged to do, what we’re continuing to do. China’s influence cannot control our own backyard, especially a critical waterway, key terrain like the Panama Canal." He emphasized that “40% of ships are U.S. ships, 75% are going to or from a port,” reinforcing the canal’s significance to American interests.
He went on to detail two major deals secured during the visit: one with the Panama Canal Authority that ensures U.S. military and support ships get priority access, and another memorandum of understanding signed with Panama’s leadership to increase American presence in the region.
“You need to secure that key terrain,” Hegseth said, adding that Fort Sherman will be reopened in partnership with Panama to host a new Jungle School, with U.S. forces invited to support regional security. “Working with them to keep the communist Chinese out.”
He warned that failure to secure the canal during times of conflict could give China a strategic edge. “Other presidents have allowed us — we’ve been sort of asleep at the wheel. President Trump has said we need to be serious about our own backyard. That includes a place like the Panama Canal.”
Hegseth extended gratitude to Panama’s President Molina, calling him a “pro-Trump, pro-America president” who is “sticking his neck out against communists.” He added, “We could see it, you could feel it. The communist Chinese want to control politicians. They’re building infrastructure projects. They want to surveil. They want to take that canal. President Trump says, not on our watch, and we’re fighting back.”
Fox News host Maria Bartiromo then chimed in, recalling her recent conversation with Trump: “That’s unbelievable. When I spoke with President Trump in an interview last month, he said that all the signage around the canal was all in Chinese. When you’re going into it, it’s all Chinese signs, when you’re coming out of it, it’s all Chinese signs. That was one piece of color that indicates how dominant they’ve been.”
Hegseth confirmed her account: “Correct. They’re building a tunnel underneath the canal they’re paying for. What could that be used for? Surveillance of submarines, of ships? Bridges over the top. I flew by their cranes in that port, antennas all over them. What are those used to do?” He added that while “removing a lot of that signage” was happening, it wasn’t enough. “You’ve got to remove the insidious influence.”
He concluded by emphasizing the scale and significance of the agreements reached: “It was a big effort across our DOD with their leaders, but they know that by coming closer to the United States and allowing additional joint U.S. presence, that’s pushing out nefarious, malicious Chinese influence.” He said Beijing was displeased with the outcome: “The Chinese didn’t like what happened in Panama this week, not at all, because this is a return of U.S. leadership, peace through strength, and the course was charted by President Trump.”