LatinNews Daily - 07 April 2026

*Panama’s government led by President José Raúl Mulino has welcomed international support in response to alleged detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China. A statement by Panama’s foreign ministry (Mire) highlights support from the US, Israel, Ukraine, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, and Peru, which it says have condemned the alleged actions by China as a “direct threat to the stability of global supply chains”. The alleged actions follow a January 2026 Panamanian supreme court ruling striking down a concession for two ports on the Panama Canal, awarded to Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong-headquartered CK Hutchison Holdings, which has announced arbitration proceedings against the Panamanian government in response. On 26 March Laura DiBella, a commissioner with the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), posted a statement saying that the FMC is “closely monitoring how recent developments surrounding the Panama Canal terminals and China’s retaliatory actions against Panama are affecting global shipping conditions”. According to the statement, “China has now imposed a surge in detentions of Panama‑flagged vessels in Chinese ports under the guise of port state control, far exceeding historical norms. These intensified inspections were carried out under informal directives and appear intended to punish Panama after the transfer of Hutchison’s port assets”. In a regular press conference on 3 April, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, rejected the accusations as “groundless”, saying that the US’ “repeated wrongful allegations only reveal its attempt to take control of the Panama Canal”.

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