China has voiced its support for Panama to retain control of the Panama Canal after Trump floated the idea of taking back control of the trade route.

China does not manage the canal. Trump’s complaints on that relate to Panama having renewed, in 2022, a longstanding arrangement with a Hong Kong-based company to manage the two ports of entry to the canal. (The renewed deal has also recently drawn some ire in Congress.)

The incoming US president said he would not let the crucial waterway - which has been under Panama's control for decades - fall into the "wrong hands".