At a regular press briefing, a ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said China deeply regretted Panama's decision. "We hope that Panama will make the right decision based on the overall situation of bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples,

China firmly opposes U.S. "smearing and sabotage" of its Belt and Road Initiative through "means of pressure and coercion", a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday, when asked about Panama's decision to exit the programme.