On March 5, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked about the Panama Canal.

Lin Jian said that on the Panama Canal issue, China supports Panama's sovereignty over the canal and is committed to maintaining the canal as a permanent neutral international waterway. China has never participated in the management and operation of the canal, nor has it interfered in the affairs of the canal. The so-called "China controls the canal" is a complete lie.