大象传媒

The Panama Canal is a great feat of engineering and a place of huge global significance for trade and shipping. An artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, literally dividing North and South America, whilst saving thousands of miles of shipping time round Cape Horn at the very southern tip of South America.

The Americans built the canal and operated it for decades, but today there鈥檚 a new global superpower hoping to make their mark. In 2017, Panama became the first country in the region to sign up to China鈥檚 Belt and Road initiative, shortly after they had cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing.

Five years after signing up, what impact has the new Silk Road had on this small Central American nation with strong historical ties to the US? Travelling from one coast to the other, 大象传媒 South America correspondent Katy Watson aims to find out.

Presenter: Katy Watson
Producer: Peter Shevlin
A C60Media production for the 大象传媒 World Service

(Photo: Panama port. Credit: Peter Shevlin)