Panama has complained to the United Nations over US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

Panama has complained to the UN over US President Donald Trump’s “worrying” threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

Panama’s government and President José Raúl Mulino have repeatedly denied that there is any Chinese presence at the canal.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino has denied that any other nation was interfering in the canal, which he said was operated on a principle of neutrality. "The canal is and will remain Panama's," Mulino said in response to Trump's threats.

Billionaire Li Ka-shing’s port business in Panama said it’s committed to operating in the country, after local authorities launched an audit of the company amid concerns raised by US President Donald Trump.

Panama sent a team of auditors on Monday to the local offices of Panama Ports, a subsidiary of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings.

Panama has formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations in response to US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize control of the Panama Canal. At the same time, the Panamanian government has initiated an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator managing two ports along the vital waterway.

Just hours after Donald Trump threatened again to take the Panama Canal in his inaugural address Monday, Panama opened a probe into a Hong Kong-based company that operates ports at either end of the waterway.