Rubio acusa a China de "intimidación" por detener o demorar a buques con bandera panameña

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has accused China of “intimidation” for allegedly detaining or delaying dozens of Panamanian-flagged vessels, even if only briefly. This statement follows Panama recent assumption of control over two strategically crucial port facilities earlier this year, a move that potentially reduced Chinese operational influence in those locations. This incident is largely seen as a retaliatory measure by Beijing, leveraging its economic power to exert pressure on Panama for asserting greater national control over key maritime infrastructure. Such actions are a recurring feature of broader geopolitical tensions, where China employs economic statecraft to reshape global shipping norms and influence smaller nations, raising significant concerns about the stability of international trade routes and the principle of freedom of navigation, particularly in areas vital to global commerce like the approaches to the Panama Canal.