China Calls Panama Court Ruling on CK Hutchison Port Contracts ‘Shameful, Pathetic’

A container ship Maersk El Alto is guided by tugboats at Panama Ports Company (PPC) after Panama’s Supreme Court annulled key port contracts held by the Hong Kong‑based CK Hutchison–owned firm on January 30, 2026. REUTERS/Aris Martinez

China on Tuesday called a Panama court ruling annulling CK Hutchison’s contracts to operate two Panama Canal ports “absurd,” “shameful and pathetic,” and vowed to defend Chinese firms’ interests.

Panama’s Supreme Court last week annulled key contracts Panama Ports Company, a CK Hutchison subsidiary, has held since the 1990s to operate container terminals, clouding the company’s proposed $23 billion ports sale to a consortium led by BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

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by Reuters

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