China has detained nearly 70 Panamanian-flagged ships following a Supreme Court ruling on the Panama Canal, according to US officials. The move comes after a Hong Kong-based conglomerate lost a legal dispute over the management of ports on the canal. The countries have released a joint statement supporting Panama and criticising China's economic retaliation. The statement accused China of attempting to politicise maritime trade and infringe on the sovereignty of the nations of our hemisphere. China has previously accused the US of "bullying" and tried to smear its reputation in Latin America.