April 2, 2026

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemns China's detentions of Panama-flagged vessels

Marco Rubio accused China of 'bullying' Panama by detaining a significant number of its flagged vessels after Panama seized control of two ports from a Hong Kong company.
In March, nearly 75% of the 124 ships detained were Panama-flagged, a sharp increase from previous months, raising concerns about retaliatory actions against Panama's sovereignty.
China denies the allegations, claiming the detentions are routine, while Panama's government seeks to downplay the geopolitical implications.