US Envoy Warns CCP Is Using Global Maritime Power for Political Coercion
According to the New York Post, U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Warren Stephens warned at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council meeting in London on July 8 that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is steadily expanding its global maritime influence through port investments, shipbuilding, and maritime supply chains, using maritime power as a tool to exert political pressure on other countries. He said this trend has become a challenge the international community “cannot afford to ignore.”
The IMO is the United Nations’ specialized agency responsible for international shipping safety, marine environmental protection, and the development of global maritime regulations. Headquartered in London, the organization convened its council to discuss issues including maritime security, shipping, cybersecurity, polar navigation, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
In his remarks, Stephens emphasized that the United States is not merely an observer in international maritime affairs but a vital part of the global maritime economy. Citing official data, he noted that the U.S. Maritime Transportation System supports approximately $5.4 trillion in annual economic activity and nearly 30 million jobs, making the protection of maritime security and freedom of navigation a matter of both American and global interest.
Stephens said the CCP has continued expanding its global port network in recent years by acquiring port concessions and investing in terminals and logistics infrastructure around the world, while also dramatically increasing its commercial shipbuilding capacity and maritime industry. He pointed out that China now builds more than half of all new ships worldwide and dominates sectors including ship-to-shore cranes, container manufacturing, and key maritime supply chains. These capabilities, he said, carry not only commercial value but also significant political and strategic implications.
He argued that Beijing’s overseas port investments are far more than ordinary commercial ventures. Instead, the CCP is seeking to transform ports, shipping, logistics, and supply chains into instruments of geopolitical influence and leverage them to pressure other nations politically. In a social media post following the meeting, Stephens said we cannot ignore “China’s systematic effort to use maritime power as an instrument of political coercion.”
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Panama port ruling highlights risks of CCP control
Stephens specifically cited the recent port dispute in Panama. He noted that Panama’s Supreme Court recently ruled that concession agreements involving Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings for the ports of Balboa and Cristóbal violated the country’s constitution. The two ports sit at the Pacific and Atlantic entrances to the Panama Canal, making them critical hubs for international trade.
He said Beijing responded quickly to the ruling by imposing restrictions on vessels flying the Panamanian flag. According to Stephens, the incident demonstrates that when countries allow foreign governments or government-linked companies to control critical ports, they are doing more than signing commercial contracts—they may also be increasing national security risks and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Stephens urged IMO member states to pay closer attention to who controls ports, shipping operations, and critical maritime infrastructure, and to carefully scrutinize port operating agreements involving companies with foreign government ties. He stressed that transparency, the rule of law, and national sovereignty do not hinder international trade but instead form the foundation for its long-term success.
He added that the United States will continue advancing a range of initiatives at the IMO, including strengthening maritime security, enforcing international sanctions, protecting the legitimate rights of flag states, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and improving international rules governing polar shipping, autonomous vessels, and maritime cybersecurity.
Stephens reaffirmed U.S. support for the IMO’s efforts to build a fair, transparent, and secure international shipping system and called on member states to work together to protect freedom of navigation and the security of global supply chains.
The report noted that Stephens’ remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump recently reiterated Greenland’s strategic importance. Trump said increasing numbers of Chinese and Russian vessels have been operating in waters surrounding Greenland in recent years, and that the United States seeks greater involvement in the region in light of Arctic shipping routes and national security concerns. He added that as the Arctic grows in strategic significance, Greenland’s role in America’s national security architecture has become increasingly important.