China 'regrets' Panama withdrawal from Belt and Road project

BEIJING: China on Friday (Feb 7) said it "regrets" Panama's decision to withdraw from Beijing's Belt and Road infrastructure program after the Latin American nation ended its participation in the project in a concession to Washington.

"Beijing regrets Panama's decision," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, urging Panama to "consider the broader bilateral relationship and the long-term interests of both nations" and "resist external interference".

Since winning the US election in November, President Donald Trump has refused to rule out the use of force to seize the canal built by Washington over a century ago and later handed over to Panama.

Around 40 per cent of US container traffic passes through the narrow body of water linking the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.

Read more: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/china-regrets-panama-withdrawal-belt-and-road-project-4923911