U.S., allies back Panamanian ships amid alleged Chinese pressure
April 29 (UPI) -- The United States and five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean backed Panama in a joint statement, warning that economic pressure from China against Panama-flagged vessels could affect regional maritime trade.
The statement, also signed by Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, follows a ruling by Panama's Supreme Court declaring unconstitutional a key contract linked to port terminals in Balboa and Cristóbal.
The United States and the other signatories said they observed actions by China, taken after the court ruling, that affected Panama‑flagged ships. They did not specify what China did, but said any such measures amount to economic pressure that disrupts maritime operations and could spill over into regional trade.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in backing that position said that "the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable."
He also expressed concern over what he described as China-led economic pressure, and warned that any attempt to affect Panama's sovereignty represents a risk for other countries in the region.
China denied the accusations and described the statement as false.
A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X that the U.S.-led statement is "a complete lie" and defended his country's "legitimate rights and interests" in relation to ports in Panama.
The spokesperson also questioned Washington's role in the region and warned that some countries are being influenced by the United States.
The signatory governments highlighted that Panama plays a key role in global trade, especially through its interoceanic canal through which a significant portion of trade between Asia and the United States passes.
They said that any interference in its operations could have an impact beyond the country and reiterated their commitment to work jointly to protect security, stability and trade in the region.
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 12:22 PM.