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US and Five Countries Back Panama After China Ship Detentions

The six countries said China’s actions against nearly 70 Panama-flagged ships amount to targeted economic pressure and threaten 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.
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By Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN en Español. The United States and several allies in the region issued a joint statement in support of Panama's sovereignty in the face of what they called "selective economic pressure from China," stating that any attempt to undermine it is a threat to all signatories. "The freedom of our region is non-negotiable," reads the statement published by the U.S. State Department and also signed by Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, P…

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The United States and several allies issued a joint statement

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The Print broke the news in New Delhi, India on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
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