There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal. You are free, the whole world is free to visit the canal if you please,' says Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino - Anadolu Ajansı

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino on Thursday vehemently denied President-elect Trump's claims that of Chinese interference in the Panama Canal. Why it matters: Trump has cited China increasing dominance in trade throughout the Americas as a reason to take control of the Panama Canal,

In a message posted to his Truth Social account on Wednesday, Trump wrote: "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal". Mulino called the claim "nonsense" and said that there is "absolutely no Chinese interference".