No. This undoubtedly is a breach of the Canal treaty (which itself is a bit of a fiction, since the text signed by Carter is not the text signed by Panama), and U.S. forces need to land and establish control over the tunnel---and inspect it with a fine-tooth comb. Then figure out what to do. Backfill with tailings might be the answer that does not pose any seismic problems.
No. This undoubtedly is a breach of the Canal treaty (which itself is a bit of a fiction, since the text signed by Carter is not the text signed by Panama), and U.S. forces need to land and establish control over the tunnel---and inspect it with a fine-tooth comb. Then figure out what to do. Backfill with tailings might be the answer that does not pose any seismic problems.