Panama denied a claim made by the State Department on Wednesday that the Central American nation had agreed to no longer charge fees for US government ships to transit the country’s famous canal.

Commenting on the Panama Canal Authority's denial of the US State Department's claim that US government vessels could cross the canal without paying fees, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated at Thursday's press briefing that China has always respected Panama's sovereignty over the canal and recognized its status as a permanently neutral international waterway.

The Panama Canal Authority late Wednesday said it has made no change to its tolls or other fees, denying the Trump administration claim that it has agreed to no longer charge U.S. government vessels for using it.