China has accused the United States of hypocrisy after the U.S. State Department expressed concern over Panama's sovereignty in a port dispute. The back-and-forth escalated on Wednesday as Beijing criticized the Trump administration's stance.
Background of the Dispute
The latest tensions began in early April when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused China of “bullying” by detaining or holding up dozens of Panama-flagged ships, albeit briefly. This followed Panama's seizure of two critical ports on the canal from a Hong Kong-based subsidiary earlier this year. China denied the allegations.
U.S. and Allied Response
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department issued a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, calling China's actions a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and expressing solidarity with Panama. Rubio posted on social media, “The sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable.”
The U.S. has adopted a more aggressive posture in Latin America under President Donald Trump, including capturing Venezuela's president, imposing reforms and an oil blockade on Cuba, and threatening military action against Mexican cartels.
China's Rebuttal
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian dismissed the statements as “completely unfounded and distort reality.” He questioned, “Who occupied the Panama Canal for a long time, invaded Panama with its military, and arbitrarily trampled on its sovereignty and dignity? Who covets the Panama Canal, seeks to turn this international waterway into its own territory? The answer is self-evident.” Jian added that the U.S. has politicized and securitized the port issue.
Panama's Stance
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino expressed appreciation for the solidarity shown by friendly countries but sought to de-escalate tensions, stating, “We do not wish to engage in controversy, as we value respectful relations with all nations.”
The U.S. has long sought to counter China's growing influence in Latin America. Panama, due to its crucial role in international trade via the Panama Canal, has been caught in the broader rivalry between the two superpowers, especially after Trump accused Beijing of running the waterway last year.
