Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that “the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable” after the US and regional allies accused Beijing of detaining Panamanian-flagged ships in a dispute over control of the Canal ports.
In a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the US said China’s actions against Panamanian-flagged ships were a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and infringe on regional sovereignty, framing the dispute as a broader strategic test over control of one of the world’s most critical commercial arteries.
As the Panama conflict focuses on detaining ships rather than a physical blockade, critics increasingly view it alongside battles over other strategic chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz as part of a widening battle over whether Beijing or Washington will set the rules for global trade and energy corridors.
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Containers and cranes at the Port of Balboa at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, February 25, 2025.
The confrontation follows the Panama Supreme Court’s decision earlier in 2026 to invalidate the legal framework behind Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-standing control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals on the flank of the Panama Canal, a chokepoint that handles about 5% of global maritime trade.
U.S. regulators have audited nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged ships detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters. A wave that US officials say is intended to take revenge on Panama and put pressure on global shipping.
Chang said Beijing now faces growing resistance as the U.S. increasingly moves directly against China, but also against governments and geopolitical chokepoints that he said have strengthened Beijing’s hand.
“Trump has apparently decided that he would counter this devious tactic by taking China’s allies — Venezuela, Cuba and Iran — off the board,” Chang said.
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An aerial view shows the Port of Rodman in Panama City, January 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
He also framed pressure on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a larger strategic effort aimed at both Tehran and Beijing.
“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a double blow, starving the Iranian regime and shaking up China’s already fragile economy,” Chang said. “Trump uses energy to reorder the world.”
Chang also accused Beijing of hypocrisy on trade.
“The Chinese communists invented hypocrisy. No one is better at hypocrisy than the Chinese communists,” he said, arguing that China has long benefited from a global trading system that it increasingly weaponized for geopolitical purposes.
“The basic truth is that China has started this cycle of action and retaliation,” Chang said. “If China had not threatened America, America would not have leaned on Panama. If America had not leaned on Panama, China would not have detained Panamanian ships.”
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Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on January 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, with the State Department arguing that US criticism reflects Washington’s strategic ambitions around the canal.
China’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called the statement “completely groundless and misleading,” said it would take steps to safeguard Chinese interests in Panama, and accused the United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.
“China also urges relevant countries not to be misled or exploited by evil forces,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
Reuters contributed to this article.
