Trump envoy warns China's power move at sea is threat 'we cannot afford to ignore'

China is seeking to turn ports, ships and supply chains into instruments of geopolitical leverage, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens warned in a statement to the International Maritime Organization Council (IMO).

"I spoke about a challenge that we cannot afford to ignore: China's systematic effort to use maritime power as an instrument of political coercion," Stephens wrote in a Truth Social post after the speech. 

"Beijing has pursued an aggressive strategy of acquiring port concessions and infrastructure around the world - not simply for commercial gain, but to extend its strategic reach and weaponize that access against sovereign nations."

The U.S. is "not a passive observer of maritime affairs," Stephens told the IMO, calling America a "cornerstone of the global maritime economy." 

He said the U.S. Maritime Transportation System supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year and nearly 30 million jobs.

For global security, Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark," Trump added.

"They wouldn't go along with it," Trump said of Denmark. "And with all the money we spend to help them with Russia. And we don't have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe because, as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago. A lot different."

"President Trump has made restoring American maritime leadership a national priority," Stephens said in his IMO remarks warning on China's broader maritime footprint.

"The evidence is clear and growing," Stephens said. "China currently builds more than half of the world's ships. It dominates the production of ship-to-shore cranes and shipping containers."

Stephens said China's response to the Panama ruling was "swift and punishing," accusing Beijing of taking action against Panama-flagged vessels in a move the U.S. characterized as an attempt to undermine Panama's sovereignty and disrupt global supply chains.

"What happened to Panama is a warning to every nation in this room," Stephens said.

"When a country allows a foreign power or its proxies to control its ports, it does not simply accept a commercial arrangement," he added. "It accepts a vulnerability."

Stephens urged IMO member states to closely scrutinize deals allowing foreign entities, especially state-linked enterprises, to operate critical port infrastructure.

"Transparency, the rule of law and genuine sovereignty are not obstacles to commerce," Stephens said. "They are its foundation."

The Chinese government has routinely rejected U.S. accusations that its overseas infrastructure investments are coercive, portraying its port, shipping and Belt and Road projects as commercial partnerships that support global trade and development.

Stephens said the U.S. will continue contributing expertise, resources and leadership at the IMO but warned that the rules-based maritime order cannot be taken for granted.

"A free and open ocean is not guaranteed," he said. "It must be defended."