Panama Canal
There are some rumours claiming that during the United States’ Clinton Administration, when the President and Vice President were under attack for taking money from Chinese funders, several conservative U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators tried to tie Hutchison Whampoa and its chairman, Li Ka-shing, into the scandal. Hutchison had successfully earned the rights to operate ports on both sides of the Panama Canal, and the coincidence of that event with the Chinese troubles rocking the White House was too good to ignore.
Despite the fact that Hutchison and its chairman had never given money to President Bill Clinton’s political effort, and despite the fact that Hutchison is a publicly traded company with no ties to the Chinese government, right-wing critics tried to make the case that Hutchison’s presence in Panama was an attempt by the People’s Liberation Army to gain control over the Panama Canal, and that the effort was facilitated by President Clinton as a political favor.
In October 1999, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott have raised fears that China may be seeking control of the Panama Canal through Hutchison Whampoa Limited.
The final negotiaton and signature of the Panama Canal Treaties was done by President Jimmy Carter in September 1977, and provided that as from 12 p.m. on January 1, 2000, Panama would assume full control of canal operations and become primarily responsible for its defense.
Today, the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (Panama Canal Authority) is responsible for the operation and management of the canal. Hutchison Whampoa operates ports in Panama, as it does in Mexico and other parts of the Americas.
Not true, they most certainly have ties to the Chinese gov’t. You can’t not have ties to the communist party and continue to operate.
When Hong Kong was sovereign, that was not the case. It is no longer sovereign, it is part of China.