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Panama Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Contracts

Panama's Supreme Court has annulled key port contracts held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, leaving the future ownership of some Panama Canal operations unclear and possibly upsetting its plans to sell some terminals. Panama Ports Company (PPC), a ...

Monument Honoring China’s Contribution to Panama Canal Torn Down

Near the entrance to the Panama Canal, a monument to China's contributions to the interoceanic waterway was torn down Saturday night by order of local authorities. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has made threats in recent months to ...

Panama’s Diplomatic Tightrope: One China, Beijing’s Red Lines, and the Politics of a Taiwan Trip

On November 13, 2025, amid reports of a possible visit by members of Panama’s National Assembly to Taiwan, the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino tweeted that such a trip did not have the support or approval of his government. The tweet triggered a chain of ...

Panama Ports Deal Hits a Wall

The Trump administration’s efforts to lessen Chinese influence in the Panama Canal have reportedly hit an impasse. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Chinese government is demanding a majority stake for the Chinese shipping giant Cosco in a proposed deal to sell several ports to the U.S. ...

China Likely to Bid on Building New Panama Canal Ports

China is among parties interested in bidding to build two new ports on the Panama Canal, its administrator said Tuesday, despite U.S. talk of retaking control of the vital trade route. U.S. President Donald Trump made the threat earlier this year, ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

Confusing Developments in “Development”

This week I’m in Brussels, where I took part in a workshop on how the EU should shape its development strategy in response to China’s global influence.
I have joked in the past that it feels like I’ve attended this same ‘EU, Africa, and External Development Partners’ conference for ten years straight. 

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CK Hutchison Executive Defends Delay in Panama Ports Deal

A top executive at CK Hutchison on Thursday brushed off the delay in offloading its Panama Canal ports as "not particularly troublesome", as the Hong Kong conglomerate reported its half-year earnings. The firm in March proposed the sale of its global ...

CK Hutchison Eyes ‘Major’ Chinese Investor for Panama Ports Deal

By Holmes Chan Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said Monday it was considering inviting a Chinese "major strategic investor" to join a US-led consortium negotiating the sale of its global ports business outside China, including operations at the Panama Canal.

Huawei Out, Washington In: Panama’s 5G Reset

When the U.S. Embassy in Panama announced in June that telecommunications equipment from Huawei—a Chinese tech giant—would be replaced with “secure American technology” at 13 sites across the country, it was more than a routine tech upgrade. It was a clear signal. 

Panama Urges U.S. Not to Involve It in Disputes With China

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday asked the United States to refrain from dragging the Central American country into its "geopolitical conflict" with China. The appeal came after the U.S. embassy in Panama City announced a project to replace communications ...

New Corridor, New Strategy: China’s Bi-Oceanic Railway and Latin America’s Trade Route Battleground

A series of geopolitical pressures is forcing China to rethink its approach to Latin America’s strategic waterways. Since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office, Washington has stepped up efforts to curtail Chinese influence in the Panama Canal, a vital artery for global trade and military logistics. ...

Hong Kong Tycoon’s Panama Port Deal Sparks Chinese Immigration Marketing Frenzy

As China moves to block a high-profile international deal, the controversy has unexpectedly fueled a new wave of immigration marketing.  On March 4, 2025, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing announced the $22.8 billion sale of his Panama Canal ports and 43 ...

China warns Panama ports deal firms to ‘proceed with caution’

China urged parties involved in Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's sale of Panama Canal ports to exercise "caution" Thursday, warning of legal consequences should they proceed without clearance from Beijing. The Hong Kong firm's attempt to sell most of its port ...
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