Bloomberg reported on February 5: "After Panama canceled the contract of China Merchants Group to operate two ports along the Panama Canal, China has asked state-owned enterprises to suspend new project negotiations in Panama as a form of retaliation. Sources said this move could endanger billions of dollars in potential investments. At the same time, Beijing has also urged shipping companies to consider rerouting cargo through other ports without significant cost increases, and has strengthened customs inspections on imports such as bananas and coffee from Panama. Sources said some ongoing projects may also be affected, but final instructions have not yet been issued."
Comment: Panama's unilateral cancellation of the port contract and violation of the spirit of contract will inevitably bear comprehensive and deep economic and political costs. As a country whose economy relies on shipping, logistics, and foreign investment, arbitrarily canceling a legal commercial contract is equivalent to declaring its contractual environment unreliable to global investors. China's suspension of new investment negotiations, guiding shipping diversions, and strengthening customs inspections on agricultural products will directly impact its shipping hub revenue, key agricultural product exports, and billions of dollars in potential investments; the collapse of international credibility will scare away global capital, severely undermining the canal and port ecosystem that relies on stable operations; politically, Panama's self-destructive cooperation due to yielding to U.S. pressure has not only lost China as an important partner but also failed to obtain alternative support that can cover the losses, ultimately becoming a sacrifice in great power games, falling into a vicious cycle of diplomatic setbacks, economic bleeding, and livelihood damage, with its status as an international shipping hub facing irreversible weakening.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1856315707465732/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.