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[QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24880, member: 2262"]
China has denounced U.S. actions aimed at disrupting its ties with Panama, according to Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhao Zhiyuan during his meeting with Panamanian Ambassador Miguel Lecaro.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino announced Thursday that his nation had sent formal notice to China about leaving the Belt and Road Initiative. Mulino stated the decision bore no connection to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent Panama visit.

The Chinese government issued a stern response to Panama's planned withdrawal from the Belt and Road memorandum of understanding. Zhao said China "firmly opposes the United States wantonly undermining China-Panama relations and smearing and sabotaging Belt and Road cooperation through the means of pressuring and threatening."

In his January 20 inauguration address, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that he wanted American control restored over the Panama Canal. He claimed China operated the waterway despite its transfer to Panama. Trump alleged Panama imposed excessive fees on U.S. vessels, including military ships. The Panamanian president rejected Trump's assertion of U.S. ownership rights to the canal.
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