Panama’s government and President José Raúl Mulino have repeatedly denied that there is any Chinese presence at the canal.

Panama has complained to the United Nations over US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

In a letter to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Panama cited UN articles banning member states from using threats and force Panama ha

China has fired back at President Donald Trump, dismissing his claim that Beijing has seized control of the Panama Canal as baseless and provocative. Newsweek reached out by email to a Trump representative and to Hutchison Ports,

While conducting an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway, Panama has taken issue with US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to grab the Panama Canal and has taken its grievances to the United Nations.

Panama has complained to the United Nations over United States President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

Panama has raised concerns at the United Nations over President Donald Trump's threat to reclaim the Panama Canal while also auditing a Hong Kong-linked company's Panama Ports operation. Trump alleges China's growing influence over the canal,

The Panamanian comptroller's office that oversees public entities announced “an exhaustive audit" at the Panama Ports Company.

In his inaugural address on Monday, Donald Trump repeated his complaint that China was effectively "operating" the Panama Canal through its growing presence around the waterway, which the United States handed over at the end of 1999.

President Trump’s push to take back control of the strategic waterway stokes memories of a period of U.S. imperial ambition and violence.

Panama City on Tuesday made a formal complaint to the United Nations, referring to an article of the UN Charter precluding any member from “the threat or use of force” against the territorial integrity or political independence of another.

Panama files UN complaint over Trump's threats to seize Panama Canal, launches audit of Hong Kong-linked port operator amid rising tensions.