Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Panama Ports Deal on the Verge of Falling Apart Because of Chinese Government Opposition
Red State ^ | 03/28/2025 | Streiff

Posted on 03/28/2025 9:42:57 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

The Chinese government has intervened to stop the planned April 2 sale of two Panama Canal ports owned by the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchinson to the US-based conglomerate Black Rock. 

CK Hutchinson operates two of the five ports adjacent to the Panama Canal. Panama first awarded the company the concession to run the ports in 1998 and extended it for another 25 years in 2021. The Canal is a major maritime chokepoint and manages about 3% of the global maritime trade. 

The issue of Chinese ownership of critical ports serving the Panama Canal predates President Trump's second term; see Does China Run the Canal? – RedState

The administration launched a full-court diplomatic press that got Panama to withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative; see UPDATED: Trump Admin. Lays Down the Law Over Panama Canal, Sets Up Major Confrontation; Panama Folds – RedState and Panama Capitulates - Will Not Renew 2017 Deal With China. What's Next? – RedState. That led to an agreement by CK Hutchinson to sell its Panama facilities to Black Rock. This seemed like an early diplomatic win for President Trump; see China's Out: American Company Taking Control of Panama Canal Ports – RedState.

Selling the Canal ports did not prove as popular in Beijing as in Washington. 

Over the past two weeks, pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao has published a series of commentaries criticising the deal for harming China's national interests and depicting it as a betrayal of China and is a "perfect cooperation" with the U.S. strategy to contain China.

China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office reposted some of the commentaries on its website, which fueled speculation Beijing could take steps to try to scupper the sale.

China's President Xi Jinping is reportedly angry about the deal. He saw Chinese ownership of the ports as a poke in the eye of American power and a bargaining chip in possible tariff negotiations.

Now, Chinese antitrust regulators (yes, I did lol writing that) have been unleashed on the deal, which is much larger than two Panamanian ports.

The sale of CK Hutchison’s two ports at each end of the Panama Canal was part of a US$23 billion dollar deal to sell 45 ports spread over 23 countries to a consortium led by United States investment firm BlackRock. CK Hutchison will pocket US$19 billion.

“We have noticed this transaction, and will review it in accordance with the law to ensure fair competition in the market and safeguard the public interest,” a spokesman from the anti-monopoly department under the market regulator said in a written reply.

The watchdog did not reveal when the investigation would be launched.

The department is responsible for conducting antitrust reviews and providing guidance to companies over their response to mitigate risk and ensure compliance overseas.

The deal may go through, but Black Rock may not end up with the ports. Though some sources say that talks are still underway between Black Rock and CK Hutchinson, nothing indicates this is anything more than wishcasting. Xi dislikes the deal; the sale has been denounced as a betrayal of China by the state press, and selling the ports to an American company is a blow to Chinese prestige, particularly in the context of Panama being offered a "deal it couldn't refuse" to leave the Belt and Road Initiative. CK Hitchinson is reportedly in talks with the Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s biggest container shipping operator that runs dozens of terminals globally. This would remove the point of friction of Chinese ownership without allowing Trump to claim victory.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Society
KEYWORDS: china; concerntrolling; panama; panamacanal; port; redchina; tds

1 posted on 03/28/2025 9:42:57 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Dear Commies: Butt out.


2 posted on 03/28/2025 9:46:24 PM PDT by Enterprise ( These people have no honor, no belief, no poetry, no art, no humor, no patriotism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

We might just have to take it back. All of it.


3 posted on 03/28/2025 9:52:08 PM PDT by Aeneas2112 (Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. Donald Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Sounds like we’ll have to send The Boys in. If so, it would be great to no longer be tangled up in Ukraine at the same time.
(and, hopefully, we still have a few guns left after handing over just about everything to Ukraine)


4 posted on 03/28/2025 10:11:16 PM PDT by BobL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aeneas2112
That's the best solution. The ricers can play nice and get a little something in return.
Or they can play rough and end up with nothing. What will it be, Ching Chong?

5 posted on 03/28/2025 10:35:25 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Kick the asshole Chinese back to China... Problem solved.

I’m not really joking. They simply cannot be allowed to have any control of that canal. None.


6 posted on 03/28/2025 10:45:13 PM PDT by Bullish (I've never seen such morons... Have you?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BobL

Not to mention leaving all that cool military stuff in Afghanistan like idiots.


7 posted on 03/28/2025 10:46:26 PM PDT by Bullish (I've never seen such morons... Have you?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Further evidence - as if any was needed - that China’s interests here are not commercial.

OK Panama, you have a choice now. The Chinese are out, or we take back the canal....by force if necessary. Its up to you.


8 posted on 03/29/2025 2:12:02 AM PDT by FLT-bird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

*yuan*


9 posted on 03/29/2025 5:22:31 AM PDT by sauropod (Make sure Satan has to climb over a lot of Scripture to get to you. John MacArthur Ne supra crepidam)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aeneas2112

So..

https://youtu.be/HHhZF66C1Dc?si=3f-jFPw4k2HtzF2L


10 posted on 03/29/2025 5:49:37 AM PDT by pingman ("Step right up! Get your free helicopter ride, courtesy of Pinochet Air!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Trump should request Congress to install a military base at the Panama Canel.


11 posted on 03/29/2025 7:55:47 AM PDT by Rappini ("No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in it's preservation" MacArthr)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson