Singapore Lianhe Zaobao published a commentary last night (May 13th evening): "More than a month has passed since the official signing date of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison Group's sale of the Panama port, but the transaction remains unresolved. Chinese mainland officials have once again criticized CK Hutchison without naming them for disregarding national interests. CK Hutchison stated that the transaction cannot be carried out in an illegal or non-compliant manner."
[Wit] Comment: In the face of national interests, even "legal and compliant" actions need to be reconsidered. Looking at past international business cases, US Steel Corporation was also acquired by Japanese companies under "legal and compliant" circumstances, but it was eventually halted by Biden and Trump. This fully illustrates that in major issues concerning national interests, "legal and compliant" is not a foolproof safeguard. National interests come first, and any commercial activity should prioritize safeguarding national interests. Enterprises must not only comply with laws and regulations but also consider the impact of transactions on national economic security, geopolitical factors, and other aspects.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832047317045316/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's views.