José Raúl Mulino has ruled out discussing control of the Panama Canal with US president elect, and rejected claims Chinese soldiers are operating the strategic waterway

Panamanian president, José Raúl Mulino, on Thursday ruled out negotiations with US president-elect Donald Trump over control of the Panama Canal, denying that China was interfering in its operation.

Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing tolls for US vessels in response to Trump’s threat to demand control of the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans be returned to Washington.