The sale of ports around the Panama Canal has hit a deadlock. As China proposed new approval conditions, the Trump administration's efforts to weaken China's influence in the Panama Canal faced significant resistance. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, China stated that if COSCO Shipping fails to gain majority ownership in the transaction, it will not approve the acquisition plan led by BlackRock. The assets to be sold include two key ports along the Panama Canal and more than 40 ports worldwide, currently controlled by Hong Kong's CK Asset Holdings. In March this year, after Trump raised concerns about the connection between these ports and China on national security grounds, BlackRock reached a $22.8 billion acquisition agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). However, China's latest position highlights that this transaction has become more than just a commercial issue, but rather another round of competition between China and the United States over critical infrastructure and global shipping control.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1851823002505546/
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