Hemisphere condemns China’s shipping retaliation tied to Panama Canal ruling
After Panama’s Supreme Court voided CK Hutchison’s contracts to operate Balboa and Cristobal terminals, China detained about 70 Panamanian-flagged ships in what US officials call economic pressure. A six-country statement led by the US defended Panama, criticized China’s actions as politicizing maritime trade, and warned of consequences for regional and US interests. CK Hutchison is pursuing international arbitration; COSCO suspended Balboa operations, and observers note shipping is increasingly used as a geopolitical lever.
