The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for "immediate changes" to the Panama Canal to limit Chinese “influence and control”.
Speaking to reporters, following a meeting on Sunday with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha, Rubio said that Panama must act now or that the U.S would take its own protective measures.
This follows President Donald Trump stating that he would not rule out military action to seize the canal if deemed necessary.
In response protesters in Panama City were burning effigies of both Trump and Rubio, with riot police eventually becoming involved.
Late last week Mulino said the issue of the canal's ownership would not be up for discussion .
"It's sealed, the canal belongs to Panama," he said.
After the meeting on Sunday Mulino also told press that he did not see a serious threat of military force from the U.S. and that he had proposed discussions address concerns about Chinese influence.