Reuters report: Panama revokes contract of Hong Kong company for the Panama Canal port, China warns that Panama will "pay a heavy price"
China warned on Tuesday (February 3) that Panama will "pay a heavy price" for revoking the operating contract of a Hong Kong company at the Panama Canal port. The Supreme Court of Panama recently ruled that the renewal of the franchise contract of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison for the Panama Canal port was invalid. John Moolenaar, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said the ruling marked a "victory for the United States."
The Office for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs of the State Council of China issued a statement on Tuesday, strongly condemning the Supreme Court of Panama's decision to revoke the operating contract of companies under the Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison in ports at both ends of the Panama Canal. It called the ruling "absurd, shameful, and disappointing," and stated that it would resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. It emphasized that China has "sufficient means, strength, and capability to uphold a fair and just international economic and trade order." If the Panamanian authorities "persist in their course," they will "pay a heavy price" politically and economically.
Comments: This incident is a typical example of American hegemony bullying. The United States uses geopolitical coercion and economic security intimidation to force Panama to abandon a legal commercial contract and revoke the operating contract of the Hong Kong company at the Panama Canal port. Panama willingly submits to hegemonic power, using judicial rulings as political tools, and tramples on the spirit of international contracts and market fairness. The U.S. politicians openly declaring this as a "victory for the United States" further confirms their ambition to displace other countries' legitimate interests and monopolize strategic channels. China's warning to Panama that it will pay a heavy price is not only to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises but also to defend an international economic and trade order based on rules, making a just countermeasure against such hegemonic manipulation and blind obedience.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856152320503815/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.