China on Wednesday said Panama’s sovereignty over the canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is “not negotiable” as President Trump vows to retake the waterway.

Beijing also rejected Mr. Trump’s assertion that China effectively controls the Panama Canal.

“The Panama Canal is not under direct or indirect control by any power,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. “China does not take part in managing or operating the canal.”

Mr. Trump used his inaugural address Monday to extol U.S. efforts under President Theodore Roosevelt to build the canal before it opened in 1914.

President Jimmy Carter turned the canal zone’s power over to Panama in the late 1970s.

Mr. Trump said it was a “foolish gift that should have never been made” and that U.S. ships are being overcharged for using the canal.

“China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back,” Mr. Trump said.

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino immediately pushed back. He said the canal would remain under his country’s control.

Ms. Mao said China agreed with Panama’s leader and denied meddling.

“Never, ever has China interfered,” she said. “We respect Panama’s sovereignty over the canal and recognize it as a permanently neutral international waterway.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.