China has urged Panama to be 'harshly' punished following a court ruling against a Hong Kong-based firm. Tian Feilong, vice dean of Minzu University's law school, said Beijing should 'consider postponing arrangements' for Donald Trump’s visit to Panama this year. He also recommended imposing 'institutional' punishments on US "proxies" in Panama and secondary sanctions on involved American parties. Tian argued on the Shanghai news site Guancha.cn that by "squeezing" China out of Latin America, the Trump administration seeks to gain advantage ahead of the US leader's trip. Trump has repeatedly claimed the Panama Canal is "operated by China" and insists the US must control it. The US national security strategy aims to keep "adversaries" away from strategic regions like the canal and Greenland.