6 Countries Back Panama vs China Port Dispute

0:00On April 28, six countries, the United States, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago just put out a joint statement standing, firm with Panama on its sovereignty. They called out China for using economic pressure to mess with sea trade and push into the hemisphere's business, especially targeting Panama flagged. Ships. The group is watching closely as these moves hit vessels sailing under Panama's flag. They stress that Panama stands as a key pillar in our global maritime system and should stay clear of any outside interference. This all stems from Panama's Supreme Court ruling back in late January. The court wiped out the legal bases for a 1997 deal that handed CK Hutchison control of the major Balboa and Cristobal ports on. Either end of the Panama Canal. Hutchison, which ran those spots for almost 30 years, shot back hard against the decision. They accused Panama of illegally grabbing their property and kicked off an international arbitration fight, demanding more than $2 billion in compensation.

1:04Right after, China jacked up inspections and holds on Panama ships, smells like retaliation, with trade routes on the line. This standoff could ripple through the whole region and everyone's waiting to see the next play. Stay informed with Global News today, AI-powered updates.