https://www.scmp.com/rss/519448/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Khushboo Razdan,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Khushboo Razdan,Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado,Lucy Quaggin Control of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the central fault line in US-Iran negotiations, with US President Donald Trump appearing to recast an earlier off-the-cuff idea into a more formal proposal that seeks to bridge Tehran’s push for dominance and Washington’s insistence on open passage. Following his Tuesday announcement of a two-week ceasefire, Trump on Wednesday told the American Broadcasting Company that his administration may seek a “joint venture” with Iran to safeguard the global... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3349436/strait-hormuz-trump-iran-joint-venture-really-possible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3349436/strait-hormuz-trump-iran-joint-venture-really-possible?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:02:48 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong customs officers have seized about 162kg of suspected dried shark fins from protected species worth about HK$280,000 (US$35,720) from Panama at the airport. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish maw arriving from the country the day before. Upon inspection, officers found six boxes of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, weighing about 162kg (357lbs), inside the consignment. The case has been handed over to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348940/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk280000-worth-dried-shark-fins-panama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348940/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk280000-worth-dried-shark-fins-panama?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:31:17 +0000 Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado Dewey Sim,Teresa Elena Frontado US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has voiced “serious concerns” over China’s intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels, vowing that the US “stands firmly” with Panama amid the Latin American country’s escalating fallout with Beijing. Rubio said China’s recent actions “raise serious concerns about the use of economic tools to undermine the rule of law in Panama, a sovereign nation and vital partner for global commerce”. “Detentions, delays, or other impediments to the movement of vessels... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3348859/rubio-raises-concerns-over-chinas-detention-panama-flagged-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:34:46 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. As Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’ As Washington stepped up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after the start of its campaign in Iran, Beijing found itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity. Read the full story here. 2. US threats... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3348581/us-threats-new-chile-leader-china-tariff-mexico-7-latin-america-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3348581/us-threats-new-chile-leader-china-tariff-mexico-7-latin-america-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China denied on Friday that it had intensified inspections of Panama-flagged vessels in retaliation for Panama’s decision to strip a Hong Kong-based conglomerate of port concessions at both ends of the Panama Canal, accusing Washington of seeking to seize control of the strategic waterway. During the daily press briefing at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, spokesman Lin Jian charged that the US had made “repeated wrongful allegations” about the inspections that exposed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348217/china-denies-retaliating-against-panama-ships-accuses-washington-canal-grab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3348217/china-denies-retaliating-against-panama-ships-accuses-washington-canal-grab?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:09:58 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has expanded international arbitration claims against Panama, alleging damages have “escalated beyond US$2 billion” in what it called an “illegal takeover” of ports and property. The Panama Ports Company (PPC), part of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family-owned conglomerate, announced the expanded claims on Tuesday local time - a month after the takeover of terminals at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal at the Panama Canal. The move... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347783/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-expands-panama-ports-claim-losses-surpass-us2-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347783/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-expands-panama-ports-claim-losses-surpass-us2-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:12:22 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Precision strike: China targets US, Japan stranglehold on photoresist supply China’s push for semiconductor self-sufficiency is shifting from broad aspiration to a precision strike on chokepoint materials, with photoresist – the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3347234/china-us-end-trade-talks-paris-chip-self-sufficiency-drive-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3347234/china-us-end-trade-talks-paris-chip-self-sufficiency-drive-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:34:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has accused a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings of lying about the country’s response to an arbitration initiated by the company over the seizure of two strategic ports. Mulino’s rebuttal on Thursday was in response to claims several days earlier by the Panama Ports Company (PPC) that his government had failed to file a response to the company’s request for arbitration by the deadline of March 13. The company filed the request after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347254/panama-president-accuses-ck-hutchison-subsidiary-lying-about-arbitration-response?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347254/panama-president-accuses-ck-hutchison-subsidiary-lying-about-arbitration-response?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 04:29:44 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison has said it will pursue “all available legal remedies” through both national and international proceedings to resolve a dispute over its two Panama Canal ports seized by authorities in February. Amid the widening conflict in the Middle East which could further complicate its multibillion-dollar global ports sale, the company downplayed the possible impact of a Strait of Hormuz blockade on its business, saying its diversified network could even benefit from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347206/ck-hutchison-vows-pursue-all-legal-remedies-over-seized-panama-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347206/ck-hutchison-vows-pursue-all-legal-remedies-over-seized-panama-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:02:41 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal,Peggy Ye Cheryl Arcibal,Peggy Ye CK Hutchison Holdings, one of the flagship companies owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family, reported a 7 per cent increase in underlying profit for 2025, as the company predicted its businesses would face “new and perhaps unforeseen challenges” in 2026. The ports-to-telecoms conglomerate said on Thursday that underlying profit reached HK$22.3 billion (US$2.85 ‌billion) last year, compared with HK$20.8 billion a year earlier. Including a one-time ⁠accounting loss, net profit fell... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347168/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-reports-7-gain-underlying-profit-amid-unforeseen-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347168/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-reports-7-gain-underlying-profit-amid-unforeseen-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:32:39 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao Cosco Shipping Ports, a unit of state-owned giant Cosco Shipping, reported modest earnings growth for 2025, as management expects to expand in emerging markets amid rising geopolitical risks to global trade. Net profit rose 1.1 per cent to US$312.1 million, and revenue increased 11 per cent to US$1.67 billion, according to its 2025 results. Total container throughput climbed 6.2 per cent to 153 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The company’s overseas terminals saw strong growth, with... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347064/china-based-cosco-shipping-ports-expects-limited-impact-iran-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:31:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has accused Panama of missing a deadline for international arbitration initiated by the company, as it confirmed its offices had earlier been raided by alleged “armed security forces”. Panama Ports Company (PPC) on Tuesday also accused authorities of silencing the country’s press and disregarding the rule of law, as it continued to paint the Central American nation as a risk to foreign investors following the seizure of its two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:10:49 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has vowed to advance the creation of an international port alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative, at a time when the world’s top merchandise exporter confronts mounting challenges to global shipping routes – from the Strait of Hormuz to Panama. An excerpt of his speech, initially given at a closed-door meeting on July 1, 2025, was first published on Monday by Qiushi, the Communist Party’s top theoretical journal. “[China needs to] deeply participate in global ocean... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346753/xi-pushes-belt-and-road-initiative-port-alliance-amid-iran-war-panama-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346753/xi-pushes-belt-and-road-initiative-port-alliance-amid-iran-war-panama-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick A United States diplomat has told Brazilian port industry executives that Washington does not want a Chinese company to win the concession for a major container terminal in Santos, the largest port in Latin America, in the latest sign that the race for one of Brazil’s most prized infrastructure assets has become a front in the broader rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Kevin Murakami, the US consul-general in Sao Paulo, made the comments on March 5, at an event organised by Grupo A Tribuna,... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3346804/washington-signals-it-wants-china-kept-out-brazils-largest-port-auction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:12:22 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Beijing has increased its inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports, a source from the shipping industry said, an action intended to raise the Latin American country’s stress level after its courts voided the operating rights of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal. Port state control (PSC) – the inspection regime countries may deploy to verify the compliance of foreign ships with various international standards – was being used as a form of leverage... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346767/papers-please-china-raises-pressure-panama-amid-canal-row-ship-inspection-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung,Oscar Liu Emily Hung,Oscar Liu The Panamanian government has asked Chinese shipping giant Cosco to reconsider its decision to suspend operations at the Balboa port amid geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategic gateway and Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings. Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza told reporters on Friday that Cosco’s decision had caught the government off guard. “The Cosco issue has actually taken us a bit by surprise. All cargo is important, and certainly, Cosco cargo is important for us,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:58:48 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China’s Ministry of Transport has summoned two maritime giants – Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) – for talks on “international shipping operations” amid legal disputes over the Panama Canal, a vital artery for global trade. No further details were provided in the one-sentence statement, which was posted on the ministry’s website on Tuesday. But in China, government summons often serve as a warning and, if ignored, could lead to further action. The move came as mounting... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346074/china-summons-maersk-msc-shipping-operations-amid-panama-saga-iran-war-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346074/china-summons-maersk-msc-shipping-operations-amid-panama-saga-iran-war-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:00:18 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Ships anchored in the Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks, according to data from shipping tracker Marine Traffic analysed by Agence France-Presse. Iran has effectively closed the vital waterway since US-Israeli strikes on it began on February 28, and at least 10 vessels have been attacked since. But by claiming to have an “all-Chinese crew” aboard, or changing their destination to “Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346021/ships-brandish-china-links-evade-irans-attacks-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3346021/ships-brandish-china-links-evade-irans-attacks-strait-hormuz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:52:45 +0000 Julien Chaisse Julien Chaisse Over the past 12 months, a series of political and military crises has erupted in different parts of the world. Do they have anything in common? On the surface, the dramas in Iran, Panama, Venezuela and Greenland look separate, each with its own cast, excuse and headlines. What links them is not ideology, or the public language used to sell each move. It is the map. Iran sits beside the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point for Gulf energy flows. Panama sits astride one of the world’s trade... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3345449/what-crises-iran-panama-venezuela-and-greenland-have-common?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3345449/what-crises-iran-panama-venezuela-and-greenland-have-common?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Fan Chen,Zhao Ziwen Fan Chen,Zhao Ziwen China has vowed to firmly safeguard its overseas interests – a core objective reaffirmed in its latest five-year plan – at a time when global volatility is testing supply chains and regional influence. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that Beijing would continue to strengthen its capacity to protect Chinese interests and citizens abroad, put the people first, and develop a global system for security and risk prevention. According to analysts, his remarks reflect the growing pressures on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345902/world-full-turmoil-china-stands-firm-mountain-compatriots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345902/world-full-turmoil-china-stands-firm-mountain-compatriots?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Is the US in decline? Many Chinese public intellectuals and journalists have long been told, or else they have talked themselves into believing, its inevitability. Now, some are not so sure after the Venezuela and Iran strikes. But of course the United States is in decline. That is so regardless of China’s rise or fall. It’s a domestic thing. Unfortunately, the rest of the world may long suffer the consequences. A declining superpower is a very dangerous beast. Exhibit No 1: Donald Trump and his... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3345885/america-decline-will-keep-losing-wars-weaker-foes-including-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3345885/america-decline-will-keep-losing-wars-weaker-foes-including-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 13:15:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings is seeking US$2 billion in damages from the Panamanian government over what it described as the “illegal takeover” of the operations of two ports at either end of the strategic canal. In a statement issued on Friday, the Panama Ports Company (PPC) said it had submitted the claim for arbitration against the country under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, vowing it would not “relent” or seek “token relief” for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:14:45 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has stepped up legal action in response to what it called Panamanian authorities’ unlawful takeover of the operations of two ports at either end of the strategic canal. The group, led by the family of Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, said on Friday it had submitted a supplement to its earlier petition against the Panamanian state for international arbitration. The supplement alleged that Panama continued to ignore the firm’s requests for communication... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345722/ck-hutchison-escalates-legal-action-over-panama-ports-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345722/ck-hutchison-escalates-legal-action-over-panama-ports-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:15:56 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘We couldn’t reach them’: Chinese firms’ Iran business in limbo after strikes Rising tensions in the Middle East following attacks on Iran are having an impact on the trade corridors and investment plans of Chinese exporters and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345639/chinas-us24-billion-seaport-push-war-iran-wake-call-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345639/chinas-us24-billion-seaport-push-war-iran-wake-call-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:12:07 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Though a Hong Kong operator has lost control of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most pivotal waterways for merchant ships, researchers said this week that Chinese state institutions have funded hundreds of other seaports around the world. Specifically, they have invested a total of US$23.9 billion over the past quarter century in 363 ports and related activities abroad, according to AidData, a research lab at US university William & Mary. The lab called the investments a safeguard against... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345361/panama-out-study-says-china-investing-us239-billion-worlds-seaports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345361/panama-out-study-says-china-investing-us239-billion-worlds-seaports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has accused Panamanian authorities of undermining due process by making an “unnotified intrusion” at a facility storing materials related to ongoing legal proceedings. The Panama Ports Company (PPC) on Friday accused the country’s government of creating a crisis, calling the “illegal takeover” of two port facilities at the Panama Canal a failure to comply with “constitutional, contractual and international obligations”. The former... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344983/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-over-unnotified-intrusion-storage-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344983/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-over-unnotified-intrusion-storage-site?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:29:00 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Panamanian authorities have reportedly raided the office of a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings that previously operated two ports at either end of the country’s canal, days after the terminals were taken over against the company’s will. According to Panamanian media on Thursday, local authorities had searched the office of the Panama Ports Company, which operated the Balboa and Cristobal ports until this week. Boxes of documents were seen being taken away during the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344809/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-vows-legal-action-over-unlawful-panama-port-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344809/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-vows-legal-action-over-unlawful-panama-port-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:26:08 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip There are few assets on earth as strategically sensitive as the ports flanking the Panama Canal. They sit at the hinge of global trade, where container ships glide between oceans and geopolitics moves just beneath the surface. That is why Panama’s seizure of two major port terminals operated by CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong conglomerate built by Li Ka-shing, deserves more than a passing headline. It is not simply a contractual dispute dressed up as constitutional housekeeping. It is a stress test... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344483/true-cost-panamas-port-seizure-lies-lost-predictability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344483/true-cost-panamas-port-seizure-lies-lost-predictability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok In the early days of 2026, there has been an unexpected turn in China’s global relations. Some US allies have started reaching out to China just as China faced complications in ties with some friendly countries in the Global South. The underlying cause for both trends is the Trump administration’s imperial behaviour. With the dramatic abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and US President Donald Trump’s wish to control Venezuela’s oil, China’s economic stake in one of its closest... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344410/chinas-latin-america-strategy-goes-well-beyond-venezuela-and-panama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3344410/chinas-latin-america-strategy-goes-well-beyond-venezuela-and-panama?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has condemned the uninvited takeover of its Panama ports by the country’s authorities, calling it unlawful and the “culmination of a campaign” against its subsidiary that operated the terminals. The conglomerate, led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, made the remarks on Tuesday, a day after the Panama Maritime Authority acted on a presidential decree allowing it to take over and operate the Balboa and Cristobal ports at either end of the Panama Canal for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:41:30 +0000 Igor Patrick,Teresa Elena Frontado Igor Patrick,Teresa Elena Frontado Panama on Monday took control of two ports at the Atlantic and Pacific entrances of the Panama Canal after a Supreme Court ruling voided the concession of their Hong Kong-based operator, a move Washington officials said was “in line with President Donald Trump’s drive to curb Chinese influence” over the strategic waterway. A decree published in the official gazette authorises the Panama Maritime Authority to occupy and run the ports of Balboa and Cristobal for “reasons of urgent social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344379/panama-orders-control-canal-ports-operated-hong-kong-firm-after-supreme-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344379/panama-orders-control-canal-ports-operated-hong-kong-firm-after-supreme-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:45:03 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US military forces boarded another sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea in an effort to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon said on Sunday. Venezuela had faced US sanctions on its oil for several years, relying on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains. US President Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December to pressure then-President Nicolas Maduro before... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343657/us-military-boards-another-oil-tanker-indian-ocean-after-tracking-it-caribbean?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343657/us-military-boards-another-oil-tanker-indian-ocean-after-tracking-it-caribbean?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:46:54 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Panama is among a growing number of markets that have become a tough sell for Hong Kong investors amid geopolitical headwinds. There is understandable concern about a court ruling nullifying a Hong Kong company’s rights to run Panama Canal ports. City leaders have rightly been pushing back in concert with the central government. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday urged Panama to ensure “fair and reasonable” treatment of Hong Kong firms operating or investing in the Latin American... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343444/panamas-u-turn-business-deal-under-pressure-dents-investor-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343444/panamas-u-turn-business-deal-under-pressure-dents-investor-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has vowed to pursue all available legal options to defend its interests after a Panamanian court last month nullified its right to operate two ports along the country’s canal, while acknowledging that keeping the operations running was beyond its control. The conglomerate headed by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family said on Thursday that it had invited the Panamanian government to enter consultations to resolve the court verdict and protect its rights and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343356/ck-hutchison-pursues-all-legal-options-panama-ports-invites-consultations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343356/ck-hutchison-pursues-all-legal-options-panama-ports-invites-consultations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:18:57 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick China will support Cuba “in the best way possible” as the island grapples with an energy crisis following tougher measures imposed by US President Donald Trump’s administration, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. Speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China “will do what it can” to assist Havana and again condemned what he described as “inhumane actions that deprive the Cuban people of their right to survival and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343242/china-vows-do-what-it-can-us-blockade-leaves-cuba-just-weeks-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343242/china-vows-do-what-it-can-us-blockade-leaves-cuba-just-weeks-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:37:01 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong investors are reviewing their stakes in Panama following a dispute over a concession held by a subsidiary of CK Hutchison to operate two ports in the country, the city’s leader has said, pledging to work with Beijing to push back. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also urged Panamanian authorities to ensure “fair and reasonable” treatment for Hong Kong firms operating in the country. “The incident has undermined investors’ confidence in Panama’s business environment, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343024/ports-row-prompts-hong-kong-investors-reassess-stakes-panama-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343024/ports-row-prompts-hong-kong-investors-reassess-stakes-panama-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:06:25 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang China should consider delaying US President Donald Trump’s visit to the country and inflict “harsh” punishments on Panama after it stripped a Hong Kong-based conglomerate of its control of the canal, a legal analyst has said. Tian Feilong, vice dean of the law school at Minzu University, also said Beijing should impose “institutional” punishments on US “proxies” in the Latin American country and impose secondary sanctions on relevant American parties. By “squeezing” China out of Latin America,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342940/china-urged-harshly-punish-panama-over-courts-canal-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342940/china-urged-harshly-punish-panama-over-courts-canal-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison could find it hard to secure compensation from Panamanian authorities over their decision to nullify its port operations, legal experts have said, noting that the arbitral tribunal it engaged lacks enforcement power and the issuance of damages may depend on the country’s own courts. The conglomerate, led by tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, said on Wednesday that its subsidiary, the Panama Ports Company (PPC), commenced arbitration against Panamanian authorities a day... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342710/ck-hutchison-set-hard-fight-secure-panama-port-deal-compensation-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342710/ck-hutchison-set-hard-fight-secure-panama-port-deal-compensation-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s commerce minister has condemned a court ruling to annul CK Hutchison Holdings’ right to operate two ports in the Panama Canal after summoning the country’s envoy in the city, warning the decision “seriously undermined” international trade rules. In a meeting with Panamanian Consul General Jose Ramon de Jesus Varela Fabrega, minister Algernon Yau Ying-wah expressed “strong dissatisfaction and opposition” to the ruling, according to a social media post by the Commerce and Economic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342746/hong-kong-summons-panama-envoy-over-court-ruling-ck-hutchison-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342746/hong-kong-summons-panama-envoy-over-court-ruling-ck-hutchison-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:03:25 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Panama is aiming to mitigate geopolitical risks and respond to US pressure by adopting a multi-operator model for its strategic canal after nullifying the concession granted to Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison to operate two of the ports, analysts have said. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino was reported to have vowed on Thursday that his country would “never again” grant concession contracts to run the Balboa and Cristobal terminals at each end of the Panama Canal to a single company. The country’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342729/whats-behind-plan-adopt-multi-operator-model-panama-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342729/whats-behind-plan-adopt-multi-operator-model-panama-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:00:14 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China has promised to send more aid to Cuba and deepen cooperation with Uruguay as it reaches out to its Latin American allies to fend off renewed American interest in the region. Cuba became the second Latin American country to send a high-ranking official to China this week. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla’s arrival in Beijing follows that of Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, the first regional leader to travel to China since the US assault on Venezuela in early... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342705/china-keeps-cuba-and-uruguay-fold-puts-panama-out-cold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342705/china-keeps-cuba-and-uruguay-fold-puts-panama-out-cold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen The recent court ruling giving the United States a win in a tussle for control of the Panama Canal is expected to prove an important “test case” for how China responds to the challenge to its interests and influence across Latin America. Analysts said there were a range of tools it could use, including diplomatic pressure on Panama, using its economic might to seek support from friendly countries and backing a legal challenge to the ruling. Last week, Panama’s Supreme Court voided a 25-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342545/how-can-china-react-panama-canal-ruling-boosts-us-push-counter-its-influence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342545/how-can-china-react-panama-canal-ruling-boosts-us-push-counter-its-influence?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 04:00:22 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Panama’s decision to invalidate port contracts with a Hong Kong-based conglomerate is sending shock waves through global port investment, analysts warn, creating a destabilising precedent amid rising geopolitical fragmentation. Tensions are escalating in the Central American nation following a top court’s ruling that voided CK Hutchison Holdings’ port concession – a long-term agreement granting rights to operate a port – from the 1990s as “unconstitutional”. The local port authority later said... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342521/panamas-dangerous-precedent-why-global-ports-appear-pawns-politics-trump-contracts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342521/panamas-dangerous-precedent-why-global-ports-appear-pawns-politics-trump-contracts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:30:11 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected criticism from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on Wednesday over a Supreme Court ruling that voided a long-standing port concession at the Panama Canal, arguing that the decision falls squarely within Panama’s constitutional and legal framework. Mulino’s comments came after China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office issued a sharply worded commentary condemning the court’s decision to declare unconstitutional the concession held by Panama Ports... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342425/panama-president-defends-judiciary-after-china-slams-canal-port-concession-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342425/panama-president-defends-judiciary-after-china-slams-canal-port-concession-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:52:38 +0000 Ushar Daniele Ushar Daniele In the dead of night, officers from Malaysia’s maritime agency boarded two tankers that were transferring millions of barrels of oil in the waters off Penang, as the re-emergence of ageing vessels from a shadow fleet in the country’s waters has put the spotlight on the illegal trade in Asia. The January 29 bust was a rare disruption to a trade worth billions of dollars each year – much of it from sanctioned oil-producing nations Russia and Iran, and involving ships plying the waters in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342393/malaysian-waters-see-return-illegal-oil-transfer-dark-fleet-tankers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3342393/malaysian-waters-see-return-illegal-oil-transfer-dark-fleet-tankers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:05:21 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Pressure from the United States remains a major challenge in CK Hutchison Holdings’ arbitration against Panama and it may take years to resolve the dispute, legal and political experts have said of the continuing controversy over the Hong Kong conglomorate’s ports. The company, led by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family, said on Wednesday that its subsidiary, Panama Ports Company (PCC), had initiated arbitration against Panamanian authorities over a court judgment declaring its concessions to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342388/us-pressure-major-challenge-ck-hutchisons-arbitration-against-panama-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342388/us-pressure-major-challenge-ck-hutchisons-arbitration-against-panama-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 10:39:36 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China said Panama risks paying a “hefty political and economic price” following the cancellation of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings’ contract to operate two major ports serving the Panama Canal. “The Panamanian authorities’ insistence on this despite widespread concerns is tantamount to shooting themselves in the foot,” China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said in a commentary posted on its WeChat account on Tuesday. The decision by the Panama Supreme Court “is legally unfounded and... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3342373/panama-ports-defeat-shows-china-faces-tougher-test-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3342373/panama-ports-defeat-shows-china-faces-tougher-test-latin-america?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:10:21 +0000 Ambrose Li,Jeffie Lam,Leopold Chen Ambrose Li,Jeffie Lam,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison has launched arbitration proceedings to challenge a Panama court ruling that nullified its right to operate two ports at the country’s canal, hours after Beijing warned that the Central American nation would pay a heavy political and economic price. The conglomerate led by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family on Wednesday said it strongly disagreed with the ruling by the country’s Supreme Court over the Panama Canal ports, which could take effect this month. It... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342287/panama-could-pay-heavy-price-over-ck-hutchison-ports-ruling-beijing-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342287/panama-could-pay-heavy-price-over-ck-hutchison-ports-ruling-beijing-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:28:29 +0000 Kandy Wong Kandy Wong Any decision by Australia to regain control of Darwin Port is likely to differ from Panama’s move to nullify a contract on its geostrategically vital canal, as fears of Chinese retaliation and a limited security consensus limit Canberra’s options, analysts said – though they warned the issue could still reopen strains in the bilateral relationship. Panama’s Supreme Court ruled on Friday against a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, ending its rights to operate two ports on the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342192/china-ties-make-darwin-port-bigger-test-australia-panama-port-dispute-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3342192/china-ties-make-darwin-port-bigger-test-australia-panama-port-dispute-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:54:32 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings faces limited legal avenues to challenge a Panama court ruling that nullified its rights to operate two major ports at the country’s canal, while taking the case to the International Court of Justice will require Beijing to act on its behalf, a legal expert has said. Basil Hwang, managing partner of law firm Hauzen LLP, said billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate could turn to a suitable court with jurisdiction over Panamanian assets to seek damages against... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342013/ck-hutchison-faces-limited-legal-options-after-panama-voids-port-rights-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342013/ck-hutchison-faces-limited-legal-options-after-panama-voids-port-rights-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:28:25 +0000