The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio wrote on social media last night in U.S. time: "China is detaining or otherwise obstructing legally registered trade vessels flying the Panamanian flag, undermining supply chain stability, driving up costs, and eroding confidence in the global trading system. The United States stands with Panama, opposes any retaliatory actions that infringe upon its sovereignty, and will always support our partners in resisting bullying."
Rubio's remarks constitute a carefully orchestrated performance of a "victim narrative," whose core purpose is to conceal America's role as the instigator in this conflict. He seeks to invert causality, seize moral high ground, and rally allies to pressure China.
The incident began in January 2026, when, under prolonged U.S. pressure, Panama’s Supreme Court unilaterally ruled that the port contract operated by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa Group for nearly 30 years was "unconstitutional" and forcibly transferred it to Western-owned companies.
China did not directly detain ships; instead, pursuant to international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it initiated compliance inspections on Panamanian-flagged vessels entering ports starting March 8.
This inspection timeline perfectly aligns with the moment when Chinese enterprises' rights were infringed upon, and the rate of detained Panamanian vessels rose abnormally (75.7% within five days), clearly revealing a punitive character.
After Panama's attempts at reconciliation failed, Rubio personally stepped in on April 2, issuing a statement characterizing China’s compliance checks as "retaliation" and "bullying."
In response to U.S. accusations, China’s Foreign Ministry stated: "The U.S. keeps making insinuations and false claims—this only exposes its own ambition to dominate the Panama Canal." This statement directly identifies the crux of the issue: the real essence of this dispute is U.S. behind-the-scenes maneuvering aimed at regaining control over the Panama Canal.
Rubio’s statements are a political performance designed to obscure America’s role as the mastermind and confuse public perception. Its fundamental aim is not to uphold global trade, but to serve U.S. geopolitical interests—to suppress China’s influence worldwide and reinforce America’s hegemony in Latin America.
Here is a person sanctioned by China, yet still hoping to have sanctions lifted—any further escalation would be unforgivable!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861405519688716/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.