>>...while the Panama Canal is vital for China’s trade with Europe.
Really? I'm trying to imagine the route. Across the Pacific, the canal (so limited to PanaMax container ships) then across the Atlantic. On top of that, there's an ongoing drought in Panama that's limiting the available lock-lifts. It's not like the Suez which is all at sea level (no locks).

Just a nit, agreed the man isn't going to make it to the end of this term.