China has over 1 billion people. Now they have the Panama Canal. Do you think they would use the canal to transport thousands/tens of thousands/hundreds of thousands of willing Chinese to populate the area? They have enough 'surplus' people in their own country.
Dumping them in Central America would make it easier to feed the rest of their people at home, while strengthening their influence in Central America. Then they spread into Mexico, where they are welcomed with open arms by the Anti-American arm of the government. A few years after they can start crossing over into the US.
I have the Reynolds Aluminun Foil by my side, all ready to go. Should I start making a hat?
Excuse me Captainpaintball, I did not say the Chinese would be moving the civilian Chinese into Panama. But if you cannot see that the canal is a hot spot of possibilities.... to me that is NOT tin foil hat but a slice of reality.