China sends delegation to Panama after ports deal, belt and road exit
China has dispatched a high-level delegation to Panama amid rising tensions surrounding the Panama Canal. The visit, led by Ma Hui, a vice-minister of the Communist Party’s International Department, is seen as an effort to understand and potentially address recent developments that have strained relations between the two countries.
The delegation's visit follows Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings' decision to sell its port operations near the Panama Canal to a group led by American investment firm BlackRock, a move criticized by China as a "betrayal." This sale, coupled with Panama's recent withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative under pressure from the US, suggests a potential shift in Panama's alignment, prompting China to seek clarity on Panama's strategic direction and the implications for its trade and shipping routes.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China has dispatched a high-level delegation to Panama amid rising tensions surrounding the Panama Canal. The visit, led by Ma Hui, a vice-minister of the Communist Party’s International Department, is seen as an effort to understand and potentially address recent developments that have strained relations between the two countries.
The delegation's visit follows Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings' decision to sell its port operations near the Panama Canal to a group led by American investment firm BlackRock, a move criticized by China as a "betrayal." This sale, coupled with Panama's recent withdrawal from China's Belt and Road Initiative under pressure from the US, suggests a potential shift in Panama's alignment, prompting China to seek clarity on Panama's strategic direction and the implications for its trade and shipping routes.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
