Panama has become the first Latin American nation to exit Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy and relationship with China’s global infrastructure ambitions,

China is opposed to U.S. "smearing and sabotage" of the Belt and Road Initiative in Panama through "pressure and coercion", its foreign ministry said on Friday, after the South American nation decided to exit the programme.

China criticized the U.S. for smearing and sabotage of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Panama, following the South American nations decision to withdraw from the program. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin