Rubio warns China after Panama ship detentions, calls hemisphere sovereignty 'non-negotiable'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that "the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable" aft nan U.S. and location friends accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships successful a conflict tied to canal larboard control.

In a associated connection pinch Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, nan U.S. said China’s actions targeting Panama-flagged vessels were a "blatant effort to politicize maritime trade" and infringe connected location sovereignty, framing nan conflict arsenic a broader strategical trial complete power of 1 of nan world’s astir captious commercialized arteries.

While nan Panama conflict centers connected shipping detentions alternatively than a beingness blockade, critics progressively position it alongside battles complete different strategical choke points, specified arsenic nan Strait of Hormuz, arsenic portion of a widening title complete whether Beijing aliases Washington will style nan rules governing world waste and acquisition and power corridors.

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Containers and cranes astatine nan Port of Balboa astatine nan Pacific entranceway of nan Panama Canal successful Panama City, Panama, Feb. 25, 2025. 

The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court determination earlier successful 2026 to invalidate nan ineligible model down Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held power of nan Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking nan Panama Canal, a choke constituent that handles astir 5% of world maritime trade. 

U.S. regulators person monitored astir 70 Panama-flagged vessels detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters — a surge American officials opportunity appears designed to retaliate against Panama and unit world shipping.

"China has utilized Iran to destabilize nan Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy," China master Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions successful Panama fresh a broader world shape successful which China uses economical leverage, waste and acquisition unit and location partners to grow power while condemning akin strategies from Washington.

Chang said Beijing is now facing increasing guidance arsenic nan U.S. progressively moves not only against China directly, but besides against governments and geopolitical flashpoints he argues person strengthened Beijing’s hand.

"Trump apparently decided that he would antagonistic this sly maneuver by taking China’s proxies — Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran — disconnected nan board," Chang said.

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An aerial position shows nan larboard of Rodman successful Panama City Jan. 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

He besides framed unit connected Iran and threats to nan Strait of Hormuz arsenic portion of a larger strategical effort aimed astatine some Tehran and Beijing.

"Closing nan Strait of Hormuz is simply a two-fer, starving Iran’s authorities and shaking China’s already vulnerable economy," Chang said. "Trump is utilizing power to reorder nan world."

Chang besides accused Beijing of hypocrisy complete trade.

"China’s Communists invented hypocrisy. Nobody does hypocrisy amended than nan Chinese Communists," he said, arguing China agelong benefited from a world trading strategy it progressively weaponized for geopolitical purposes.

"The elemental truth is that China started this rhythm of action and retaliation," Chang said. "If China had not threatened America, America would not person leaned connected Panama. If America had not leaned connected Panama, China would not person detained Panamanian vessels."

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Two cargo ships participate nan Miraflores Locks of nan Panama Canal successful Panama City connected Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, pinch its overseas ministry arguing U.S. disapproval reflects Washington’s ain strategical ambitions astir nan canal.

China's overseas ministry called nan connection connected Wednesday "entirely baseless and misleading", said it would return steps to safeguard China's interests successful Panama, and accused nan United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.

"China besides urges nan applicable countries not to beryllium deceived aliases exploited by malevolent forces," added Lin Jian, a overseas ministry spokesperson.

Fox News Digital reached retired to nan Chinese Embassy successful Washington, D.C., for remark but did not person a consequence successful clip for publication.

Reuters contributed to this article.