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 the U.S. and determination allies accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships successful a quality tied to canal larboard control.

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

While the Panama quality centers connected shipping detentions alternatively than a carnal blockade, critics progressively presumption it alongside battles implicit different strategical choke points, specified arsenic the Strait of Hormuz, arsenic portion of a widening contention implicit whether Beijing oregon Washington volition signifier the rules governing planetary commercialized and vigor corridors.

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

The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court determination earlier successful 2026 to invalidate the ineligible model down Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held power of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking the Panama Canal, a choke constituent that handles astir 5% of planetary 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 accidental appears designed to retaliate against Panama and unit planetary shipping.

"China has utilized Iran to destabilize the Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy," China adept Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions successful Panama acceptable a broader planetary signifier successful which China uses economical leverage, commercialized unit and determination partners to grow power portion condemning akin tactics from Washington.

Chang said Beijing is present facing increasing absorption arsenic the U.S. progressively moves not lone against China directly, but besides against governments and geopolitical flashpoints helium argues person strengthened Beijing’s hand.

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

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

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

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

Chang besides accused Beijing of hypocrisy implicit trade.

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

"The elemental information is that China started this rhythm of enactment 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 the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal successful Panama City connected Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)

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

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

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

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

Reuters contributed to this article.