China protests Panama over its exit from Belt and Road Initiative

ISTANBUL

China announced Saturday that the country has lodged “serious representations” with Panama over its exit from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Assistant Foreign Minister Zhao Zhiyuan Friday conveyed Beijing’s protests regarding Panama’s decision not to renew the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the BRI to Panama’s Ambassador to China, Miguel Humberto Lecaro Barcenas, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The reaction from China came after the Central American nation announced its formal withdrawal from the BRI.

“Backpedaling and ‘sailing against the wind’ on Belt and Road cooperation runs counter to the expectations of the Chinese and Panamanian peoples and is not in Panama’s vital interests,” said Zhao, adding that China’s “firm” opposition to the US for “wantonly undermining China-Panama relations and smearing and sabotaging Belt and Road cooperation through pressure and threats.”

He urged Panama to resist “external interruption.”

Ambassador Lecaro, in return, expressed that Panama values relations with China.

China also lodged “serious protests” with Washington Friday on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments on Beijing during his visit to Latin American countries.

Panama's withdrawal from the BRI was officially confirmed by President Jose Raul Mulino during a weekly press conference.

Mulino said on Thursday that Panama’s ambassador to Beijing had submitted the necessary documents to China, notifying them of the decision 90 days in advance, as required by the agreement.

Rubio had stressed the need to reduce China’s influence over the Panama Canal during his visit last weekend.

However, Mulino said Washington was spreading "lies and falsehoods" after the State Department claimed that US vessels would be able to pass the Panama Canal without paying.