José Raul Mulino has refused to hold talks with Donald Trump, who threatened that the United States could regain control of the Panama Canal.

Panamanian president rejects threat US President-elect Donald Trump The United States could regain control of the Panama Canal and say “there’s nothing to talk about.”

President José Raul Mulino on Thursday also rejected the possibility of lowering canal tolls for U.S. ships and denied that China has any influence over the vital waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

“If there was an intention to talk, there’s nothing to talk about,” Mulino said at his weekly news conference.

“This canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. It is impossible to have any kind of dialogue around this reality, which has cost this country blood, sweat and tears.”

The president’s comments come just days before Trump takes office next month. Threaten to take back control He called the fees charged by Panamanian authorities “ridiculous.”

The United States held administrative control over the canal for decades before handing it over to Panama in 1999.

In a series of social media posts over the past week, Trump accused the Central American country, which has had diplomatic ties with Washington since 1903, of “ripping off” the United States over the Panama Canal.

“Our Navy and Commerce Departments have been treated very unfairly and unwisely,” Trump wrote on his Truth social platform on Saturday.

“The fees Panama is charging are ridiculous, especially considering the extraordinary generosity the United States has bestowed upon Panama. This outright ‘theft’ of our country will stop immediately.”

Trump also claimed that Chinese soldiers “benevolently but illegally operate the Panama Canal.”

Panama’s president dismissed the claim on Thursday, saying China had no role in the management of the canal.

“For God’s sake, there are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, and the whole world can freely visit the canal,” Mulino told reporters.

China does not control or manage the canal, but a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings has long managed two ports at the canal’s Caribbean and Pacific entrances.

Meanwhile, Trump on Wednesday named Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as his envoy to Panama.

Trump described Cabrera in a social media post as a “fierce fighter for America First principles” and said he “will do an outstanding job representing our country’s interests in Panama!”

Earlier this week, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Panama City, angry over Trump’s remarks about the Panama Canal.

Protesters chanted “Trump, animals, leave the canal alone!” and burned photos of the incoming US president.