Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has dismissed the claims by the United States that China "controlling the Panama Canal". The president said at a press conference on Thursday that he has instructed Panama's Foreign Minister to firmly reject the U.S. proposal to discuss the issue of "preventing the canal area from being influenced and controlled by China" during a meeting with Alvin Holsey, the newly appointed Commander of the U.S. Southern Command. Mulino also warned that if the U.S. continues to spread such misinformation, dialogue between Panama and the U.S. side would be halted. The Panama Canal, which started operation in 1914, serves as an important international waterway that links the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. It was taken over by the Panamanian government in 1999 following the terms set out in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which were signed back in 1977 by Panama's General Omar Torrijos and then U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Controversy has arisen in recent months after current U.S. President Donald Trump accused Panama of treating the U.S. in a "very unfair and injudicious way," and has refused to rule out using military means or taking economic action in his pursuit of the Panama Canal. During his inauguration speech last month, Trump claimed Panama had "violated" the treaty and said the U.S. would be "taking it back". SHOTLIST: FILE: Panama - Date Unknown 1. Aerial shots of ships in Panama Canal waters; FILE: Panama - Date Unknown 2. Various of ships, boats, waterway of Panama Canal; FILE: Panama - May 2024 3. Aerial shots of vessels in Panama Canal waters; FILE: Panama - May 2024 4. Aerial shots of vessels in Panama Canal; 5. Sign of Panama Canal; Panama City, Panama - Jan 22-26, 2025 6. Various of national flag of Panama; 7. Various of traffic, buildings. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]