PANAMA CITY (AP) 鈥� The U.S. State Department accused China of violating sovereignty over a port dispute in the Central American nation, triggering another fierce back-and-forth on Wednesday as the Chinese government called the Trump administration hypocritical.
The most recent spat was triggered in early April when Rubio accused China of 鈥渂ullying鈥� by detaining or holding up dozens of Panama-flagged ships 鈥� though for a short period of time 鈥� after the Central American country earlier this year from a . China denied the allegations.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department released a joint statement with a handful of smaller U.S. allies in the region 鈥� Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago 鈥� saying that the action was a 鈥渂latant attempt to politicize maritime trade鈥� and that they 鈥渟tand in solidarity with Panama.鈥�
The comments come as U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a more aggressive stance on Latin America than administrations in past decades, and pushing massive reforms in Venezuela, imposing an , and threatening .
鈥淭he sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable,鈥� wrote U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a social media post on Tuesday night.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry in a news conference Wednesday said the statements 鈥渁re completely unfounded and distort reality.鈥�
鈥淲ho occupied the Panama Canal for a long time, invaded Panama with its military, and arbitrarily trampled on its sovereignty and dignity? Who covets the Panama Canal, seeks to turn this international waterway 鈥� meant to remain permanently neutral 鈥� into its own territory, and disregards the sovereignty of regional countries? The answer is self-evident,鈥� Jian said.
“The one who has politicized and securitized the issue of ports is the United States,” he added.
Shortly after, Panamanian President Jos茅 Ra煤l Mulino wrote in a statement that he appreciated the 鈥渟olidarity of friendly countries鈥� over the Panamanian-flagged vessels in Chinese ports, but appeared to try and diffuse mounting tensions.
鈥淲e do not wish to engage in controversy, as we value respectful relations with all nations,鈥� he said.
The U.S. has long sought to offset China鈥檚 growing presence in Latin America. Panama, in part due to its crucial role in international trade with the Panama Canal, has been particularly caught in a broader after last year of running the international waterway.
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