Guests – Ava Chen, Mike Jette
China's Global Strategy: From Panama to Africa
The Panama Canal: A Critical Battleground
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has established significant control over the Panama Canal through strategic economic and infrastructure initiatives. Chinese state entities now operate major ports, bridges, and economic development zones along both sides of this crucial waterway. According to expert Ava Chen, these operations extend far beyond commercial interests.
"Once a country establishes economic agreements with the Chinese Communist Party, they open the door for CCP proxies - including companies, entities, and intelligence operatives," Chen explains. These operatives often pose as businesspeople, researchers, cultural figures, or journalists while conducting surveillance and gathering sensitive information.
The Panama Canal handles approximately 5% of global trade annually, generating $3.38 billion in revenue. Its strategic location provides a vital shipping route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Recent developments suggest growing tension over control of the canal - Marco Rubio's visit to Panama City emphasized Trump's concerns about Chinese influence, while Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino recently withdrew from China's infrastructure investment project.
The CCP's Long-Term Strategy
Chen outlines how the CCP's current actions stem from a carefully orchestrated plan dating back decades. In 2012, when Xi Jinping came to power, China's approach shifted dramatically. According to intelligence sources, Xi immediately:
Dispatched 5,000 additional operatives to the United States
Cultivated 15,000-18,000 additional assets within America
Established a secret pact with Putin, offering $1 trillion in exchange for strategic cooperation
Began aggressive implementation of "unrestricted warfare" tactics
"Starting in 2012, Xi Jinping switched its espionage intelligence operations from defensive to offensive," Chen reveals. This shift marked the beginning of a more aggressive phase in China's global strategy.
Egypt and Africa: The Next Frontier
China's influence in Egypt exemplifies its broader strategy across Africa. Since 2014, Egypt and China have signed 25 bilateral agreements worth billions of dollars. Chinese state-owned companies now control strategic ports at both ends of the Suez Canal and along Egypt's Mediterranean coast.
The CCP has invested approximately $200 billion in Africa, often with "no strings attached" - a stark contrast to Western investment approaches that typically require democratic reforms and human rights commitments. This strategy has proven effective - of Africa's 54 countries, many consistently support China's positions in UN votes, even on human rights issues.
Chen points out that these investments aren't purely economic: "If you look at the ports and facilities the CCP has built in those nations, you can find Chinese military personnel present in all of them." These civilian facilities can be rapidly converted to military use if needed.
The Four Stages of Subversion
Drawing parallels to historical Soviet tactics, Chen describes four stages of societal subversion:
Demoralization (15-20 years)
Destabilization (2-5 years, targeting essential structures)
Crisis (attacking institutions)
Normalization
According to Chen, the demoralization phase was completed around 2010, with destabilization beginning in 2014. The strategy involves:
Economic infiltration
Cultural influence operations
Educational system penetration
Social media manipulation
Artificial intelligence deployment
These coordinated efforts aim to reshape perceptions and values while establishing control over critical infrastructure and institutions.
The Role of Law Enforcement
Mike Juddy, a career prosecutor with experience fighting transnational crime, emphasizes the importance of strong legal responses to these challenges. The recent designation of cartels as terrorist organizations provides additional tools for prosecution and longer sentences for those involved in cross-border criminal activities.
"These are military ports," Chen concludes, "used for facilitating military supplies to various groups globally. The commercial aspect is just a cover for their true purpose."