US, allies condemn China over Panama Canal ports dispute

The United States, along with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, issued a joint statement condemning China's ongoing dispute with Panama over control of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports, which sit on opposite ends of the Panama Canal. The statement criticizes China's actions as undermining Panama's sovereignty and the canal's neutrality. China has invested heavily in port infrastructure in Panama, raising concerns about strategic influence. The dispute reflects growing tensions over China's expanding role in Latin America.