China’s Detentions of Panama-Flagged Vessels Raise Concerns, Rubio Says

A drone view of the Panamanian‑flagged Crimson Delight vessel transiting toward Balboa port as the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said on Thursday it is closely monitoring a surge in detentions of Panama‑flagged vessels in China, a development that appears linked to a Panama court ruling against Hong Kong‑based CK Hutchison, in Panama City, Panama, March 27, 2026. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun

Detentions of Panama-flagged vessels by China that followed a Panamanian court ruling raise serious concerns, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said last week it was closely monitoring a surge in detentions of Panama-flagged vessels in China that appears tied to a Panama court ruling against Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison.

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by Reuters

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