Deutsche Welle reported today: "On Thursday (April 2), U.S. Secretary of State Rubio accused China of 'bullying' vessels flying the Panamanian flag. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) also pointed out last week that China's detention of Panamanian-registered ships has significantly exceeded historical norms. According to publicly available data from the Asia-Pacific Port State Control Agreement, among the 124 ships inspected and detained at Chinese ports in March this year, 92 flew the Panamanian flag—accounting for about 75%, far exceeding the 30% to 40% ratio observed in January and February."
Rubio stated on social media: "China is detaining or obstructing Panamanian-flagged vessels engaged in legitimate trade, disrupting supply chains, driving up costs, and undermining confidence in the global trading system."
In January this year, Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that the operating rights of Panamanian Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, at the Balboa and Cristobal ports on either end of the Panama Canal were unconstitutional. The contract was forcibly revoked in February, and the government took over the ports. Beijing views this move as retaliation against that decision.
CK Hutchison, which has operated these ports for nearly 30 years, refuses to accept the ruling, accusing the Panamanian government of unlawful expropriation of assets and has initiated international arbitration, seeking compensation exceeding $2 billion.
Panama-based Chinese ambassadorial spokesperson Liu Pengyu responded by saying that the U.S. “continually makes baseless accusations, revealing only its intent to control the canal.” Beijing had previously criticized the court ruling as an “untrustworthy act” and expressed strong opposition. Last year, former President Trump accused Beijing of ‘controlling’ the Panama Canal, drawing Panama into the U.S.-China rivalry. The Trump administration regarded the waterway as strategically vital both commercially and militarily, repeatedly mentioning the need to reassert control over the Panama Canal.
Commentary: Rubio and the U.S. accusing China of 'bullying' Panamanian-flagged vessels are a complete reversal of cause and effect—a typical case of political manipulation based on double standards. The root cause lies in Panama, under U.S. encouragement, unilaterally breaking a nearly 30-year contract and forcibly seizing Chinese-invested port operations. China’s legally mandated enhanced ship safety inspections fall within its sovereign right and normal regulatory scope, yet the U.S. deliberately distorts and sensationalizes it. While turning a blind eye to Panama’s breach of faith and violation of Chinese enterprise rights, the U.S. uses the pretext of safeguarding supply chains to smear China. Its real goal is to seize control of the Panama Canal and interfere in regional affairs. China’s response cuts straight to the heart of America’s hegemonic ambitions. At its core, this farce exemplifies how the U.S. leverages third parties to contain China, politicizing global shipping routes and trade rules.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861428459973962/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.