President Trump is wrong when he says China controls the Panama Canal. But the U.S. rival does have influence there, and the administration is moving to counter it.

The Trump administration is taking proactive measures to regain control over the Panama Canal and reduce Chinese influence at its ports.

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.