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Igor Patrick

Panama’s foreign minister has called on a group of opposition lawmakers visiting China to deliver a firm message defending the country’s sovereignty, as tensions over a wave of detentions of Panamanian-flagged vessels show no signs of easing.
Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez said on Monday that the lawmakers should relay a clear message to their Chinese counterparts on Panama’s behalf.
“I can only suggest that you convey that Panama respects China, but Panama first respects the Constitution of our country, and that therefore a court ruling must be obeyed and must not be used as a basis for any kind of economic coercion against our merchant fleet,” Martinez-Acha said.
The remarks came as seven members of Panama’s National Assembly travelled to China as part of a parliamentary friendship group.
The delegation, which includes lawmakers Patsy Lee, Jairo Salazar, Arquesio Arias, Flor Brenes, Gertrudis Rodriguez, Didiano Pinilla and Roberto Archibold, is scheduled to return on May 10.


Lee said the group’s agenda included a visit to Huawei Technologies’ headquarters and meetings with Chinese government officials and international cooperation bodies. The lawmakers also attended the Canton Fair, one of the world’s largest trade exhibitions.
“This trip will bring multiple benefits, because China is an international reference due to its economic rise,” Lee said.
The visit has drawn criticism from colleagues in the legislature, with Jose Perez Barboni, a lawmaker from the Movimiento Otro Camino party who recently visited Taiwan, questioning the trip in light of freedom concerns and the ongoing ship detentions.
“The press freedom index just came out, and that country does not represent many of the transparencies we have tried to promote,” Perez Barboni said. He urged the delegation to raise the issue of Panamanian vessels being held in Chinese ports.
Luis Duke, from the Coalicion Vamos party, said the conduct of foreign policy was the executive branch’s responsibility. He added that the trip was acceptable as long as it was not funded by the state and did not compromise future votes on matters of national importance.
The controversy over the legislative visit unfolds against a backdrop of rising friction between Panama and China over the detention of Panamanian-flagged ships.
Rommel Troetsch, a former president of Panama’s Maritime Chamber, told Panamanian broadcaster EcoTV that the increase in detentions had been “unusual” and began escalating in March.
He linked the pattern to diplomatic tensions following a Supreme Court ruling that voided the concession held by Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, to operate the ports of Balboa and Cristobal at both ends of the Panama Canal.
The US Federal Maritime Commission said China detained nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged vessels in March alone, a figure it described as far exceeding historical norms. The commission warned that the inspections appeared to follow informal directives and could amount to reprisals.
Beijing denied any retaliation, with foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian accusing Washington of making “repeated wrongful allegations” and saying the claims exposed the United States’ “true intention” to seize control of the canal.




Last week, the US and five countries in the region issued a joint statement accusing China of politicising maritime trade.
Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and the US said the actions against Panamanian-flagged vessels were “a blatant attempt to politicise maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was “deeply concerned” by China’s targeted economic pressure and stood in solidarity with Panama.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino sought to lower the temperature of the exchanges, saying the country had received a communication “at the highest level” from the Chinese government acknowledging that the port dispute would be resolved through international arbitration and did not constitute a problem between the two governments.
“We are caught in a kind of tide, a product of a problem between two great powers, the United States and China,” Mulino told reporters at his weekly press conference.
Mulino defended Panama’s decision to take control of the ports, saying the government had not expropriated them but moved in after the concession was voided.
“As far as I am concerned, I have no interest in escalating this problem with China,” he said.
CK Hutchison has launched international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Panama and is seeking more than US$2 billion in damages.
The company said it had invested more than US$1.8 billion in infrastructure and technology over nearly 30 years of operating the terminals. Experts expect the case to take at least two years.
Panama has one of the world’s largest ship registries, with more than 8,000 flagged vessels. The detentions have not involved confiscation of vessels or cargo but have resulted in delays, additional inspections and heightened scrutiny by Chinese port authorities.


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Foreign minister says court ruling must not be used as leverage against Panama’s merchant fleet as ship detentions mount


Foreign minister says court ruling must not be used as leverage against Panama’s merchant fleet as ship detentions mount.


Panama minister blasts China’s ship crackdown, tells deputies to demand answers in Beijing

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign minister says court ruling must not be used as leverage against Panama’s merchant fleet as ship detentions mount

Foreign minister says court ruling must not be used as leverage against Panama’s merchant fleet as ship detentions mount