US Edition6 Nations Back Panama Amid China Port Tensions
The six nations said nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged ships were detained in March and warned the pressure could disrupt regional maritime trade.
- On Tuesday, the United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement condemning China's "targeted economic pressure" on Panamanian-flagged vessels following a court ruling.
- The diplomatic support follows the Supreme Court of Panama's January decision to annul contracts held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison to operate Balboa and Cristobal terminals at the Panama Canal.
- China detained nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged ships in March, according to the Federal Maritime Commission, a number described as "far exceeding historical norms" by the agency. Federal Maritime Commission head Laura DiBella warned these actions threaten United States containerized trade.
- CK Hutchison launched an international arbitration case seeking more than $2 billion in damages, while Beijing summoned representatives from Maersk and the Mediterranean Shipping Company for "high-level discussions" regarding terminal contracts.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is "deeply concerned" by China's economic pressure on Panama, as analysts warn that global shipping lanes are increasingly becoming pawns in international politics.
61 Articles
61 Articles
Spitting the dummy: US leads new call backing Panama against China...
The United States on Tuesday led a group of regional countries in a joint call backing Panama in a dispute with China over the canal, calling Beijing's actions a threat to them all. The United States, which has already been vocal on the issue, led a joint statement of mostly right-leaning countries: Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago. China's actions "are a blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade and infringe on t…
US-China dispute on Panama flares back up
The spat between the US and China over Panama’s canal ports flared back up Wednesday, weeks before a high-stakes meeting of the countries’ leaders. Washington’s top diplomat accused China of a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” after Beijing briefly detained dozens of Panama-flagged ships in Chinese ports. The US earlier this month said China was “bullying” vessels in retaliation for Panama’s seizure of two canal ports from a Hong Ko…
TVA Nouvelles
MARINE & OCÉANS
U.S., Latin American allies condemn China for ‘politicizing’ maritime trade
The U.S. and five allied countries in Latin America on Tuesday accused China of “politicizing” maritime trade and jeopardizing Panama’s sovereignty following an increase in detentions of Panama-flagged ships at Chinese ports. Panama’s Supreme Court in January annulled a contract that allowed CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong-based company, to operate two container terminals at separate ends of the Panama Canal. After the ruling, the Panamanian governmen…
Associated Press News
Independent EspañolPANAMA CITY (AP) — China denied pressure on Panama on Wednesday a day after the United States and several Latin American countries said they are alert to Beijing actions affecting Panamanian flag vessels.
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