Panama has officially informed Beijing of its decision to withdraw from China's massive infrastructure and investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative, the country's leader announced on Thursday.

China firmly opposes U.S. "smearing and sabotage" of its Belt and Road Initiative through "means of pressure and coercion", a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday, when asked about Panama's decision to exit the programme.

The United States may be targeting "weak links" in Chinese-backed initiatives or groupings to cut Beijing's growing influence as part of an emerging strategy during President Donald Trump's second term,