Donald Trump has begun his second term as president by ramping up pressure on Panama – threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal and accusing the country of ceding control of the strategically critical waterway to a US rival: China.

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.

China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had lodged complaints with the United States over "irresponsible" remarks regarding the Panama Canal and "attacks" on China's cooperation with Panama over the canal.