Panama minister says US defense chief Hegseth will visit in April

China has criticised what it called US 'coercion' after Panama declined to renew a key infrastructure agreement with Beijing following Donald Trump's threat to 'take back' the Panama Canal.

The Belt and Road Initiative is President Xi Jinping's signature foreign police drive to bind China closer to countries in the region and beyond by building roads, railways, airports, power plants and other infrastructure.

The Port of Balboa is operated by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based firm CK Hutchison.

The Trump administration sees a Chinese threat to U.S. security.