China criticises US ‘coercion’ as Panama declines to renew infrastructure deal

The Cristobal port, operated by the Panama Ports Company, in Colon, Panama (Matias Delacroix/AP)

China has criticised what it called US “coercion” after Panama declined to renew a key infrastructure agreement with Beijing following Washington’s threat to take back the Panama Canal.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a briefing that China “firmly opposes the US smearing and undermining the Belt and Road co-operation through means of pressure and coercion”.