First GOP presidential debate: on Foreign Policy

Donald Trump: We can't let China run the Panama Canal

TRUMP: Yeah, and it's far beyond Cuba. We built a thing called the Panama Canal. We lost 35,000 people to the mosquito, malaria. The Panama Canal was such an incredible engineering marvel. We sold it under Jimmy Carter. We sold it to Panama for $1. The following day they quadrupled the amount of money that ships had to pay to get across. It's one of the most profitable things. We gave it away for $1. China now controls it. They actually control the Panama Canal. They run it, they control it, and we shouldn't let that happen. We can't let China be in Cuba. They'll get out. If I'm president, they'll get out. Because I had a very good relationship with President Xi. He respected this country. He respected me and he'll get out. We can't let them run the Panama Canal. We built the Panama Canal. Should have never been given to Panama. We should have had it, but we gave it for $1. Think of it.

Chris Christie: If we don't stand against autocratic killing, we'll be next

Donald Trump: FactCheck: US never had right to sell Panama Canal

FactCheck by U-S-History.com: China is the primary source of products going through the Colon Free Trade Zone and its increasing presence around the Canal has made the waterway a flashpoint for US-China competition. China's influence in Panama has only grown since 2017 when then-president Varela severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognized China.

[On the "sale" of the Canal to Panama]: In 1903, the U.S. offered to pay Colombia the sum of $10 million plus an annual payment of $250,000 for a perpetual lease. The U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty, but Colombia Senate defeated it. President Teddy Roosevelt [then recognized a rebellion creating] independent Panama, and gave the new government the same deal. [Conclusion: The U.S. never "owned" the Panama Canal and Pres. Carter's Panama treaty acknowledged that].