US and Six Latin American Nations Condemn China’s Panama Canal Retaliation

Panama’s Supreme Court recently annulled long-standing port contracts with a Hong Kong conglomerate’s subsidiary, citing constitutional concerns. In response, China imposed “targeted economic pressure” by detaining nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged ships in March, far exceeding historical norms according to the US Federal Maritime Commission. In a joint statement, the United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago denounced China’s actions as an attempt to politicise maritime trade and infringe on national sovereignty. They reaffirmed their support for Panama’s independent judicial decision. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that any effort to undermine Panama’s sovereignty threatens all nations. China has dismissed these criticisms, accusing the US of bullying and calling the Panamanian court ruling “absurd” and “shameful.”

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