An official in the administration of US President Donald Trump told Breitbart News that Chinese authorities had threatened to detain Panamanian-flagged ships in Chinese ports.

According to information published by Breitbart , the warning would represent retaliation against Panama following recent events related to the control of two ports located at each end of the Panama Canal, which were previously in the hands of Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison linked to the Chinese government.

According to the source cited by the media outlet, the threat was initially transmitted to the Panamanian consulate in Greece by a major Greek shipping company.

This information was subsequently reported to the United States government before the US official shared it with Breitbart News .

The official indicated that the warning originated through an email sent to the consulate of a large shipping company, which was subsequently forwarded to the Panamanian consulate in Greece.

The message indicated that the China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) had reported that “Panamanian-flagged vessels would be detained in Chinese ports for political reasons.”

So far, there are no reports of any ships being detained. However, the threat is recent and could impact future port calls by Panamanian-flagged vessels in China in the coming days or weeks.

Thousands of ships worldwide fly the Panamanian flag under the Central American country’s open registry or “flag of convenience” program. Among the companies using this system are some of the world’s largest shipping lines, including companies from Greece, Japan, and India.

According to the publication, the Chinese warning could slow down or hinder international trade. The term “stop” would not necessarily imply the confiscation of vessels or their cargo, but rather delays in departures or additional inspections by Chinese port authorities.