H-W runs the balboa and cristobal ports ." Don't the Chinese basically control the canal?"
This is urban myth which is treated as fact by some here on FR.
Hutchinson Whampoa controls Balboa and Cristobal ports. H-W apparently tried to get the berths at the former Rodman naval station also but was unable to. It is generally accepted that H-W won the bidding for the Balboa and Cristobal port lease corruptly (surprise, this is latin america). It is often stated that H-W has ties or is close to the PRC, which obviously it has to be to some degree.
The successor entity to the Panama Canal Commission controls all canal operations, and is directly controlled (and owned) by the panama government., with substantially the same workforce it had at turnover in 1999.
H-W runs the balboa and cristobal ports .