https://www.scmp.com/rss/521022/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is expected to move forward with selling its remaining port assets, despite Panama’s Supreme Court nullifying its contract for two terminals at either end of the country’s geostrategically vital canal, according to experts. But the effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate to offload the rest of its ports would still face scrutiny from Beijing and local authorities, and the overall deal might need to be re-evaluated, experts told the South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Fiona Chow,Olga Wong Fiona Chow,Olga Wong Beijing has vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard the rights of Chinese enterprises after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled that a contract held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two ports at the country’s canal was unconstitutional. The Hong Kong government on Friday also slammed the ruling, which could leave the Li Ka-shing-controlled CK Hutchison empire at risk of losing its right to operate two major ports at either end of the strategic Panama... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341785/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-risks-losing-panama-port-rights-after-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341785/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-risks-losing-panama-port-rights-after-court-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:37:37 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s US$22.8 billion global ports sale hung in the balance at the end of 2025, nearly 10 months after it was first announced, as a veteran political commentator said the most expensive terminal acquisition in history was unlikely to come to fruition amid geopolitical tensions. What began as a strategic exit for billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate devolved into a high-stakes geopolitical stand-off between Washington and Beijing over the control of global trade... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338430/could-2026-be-make-or-break-year-ck-hutchisons-panama-ports-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:15:08 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong. Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing. Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338338/jimmy-lai-verdict-and-panama-port-saga-what-shaped-hong-kongs-2025-political-scene?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:33:59 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The United States on Thursday underscored its maritime security partnership with Panama, as a high-stakes dispute involving China, US investors and a Hong Kong conglomerate continues to cloud the future ownership of key ports at the Panama Canal. US Ambassador Kevin Cabrera boarded the US Coast Guard cutter Alert during a port visit in Panama City, praising joint operations ranging from counter-narcotics missions to search-and-rescue efforts carried out with Panama’s Ministry of Public... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336974/us-highlights-panama-security-ties-china-linked-canal-ports-deal-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3336974/us-highlights-panama-security-ties-china-linked-canal-ports-deal-stalls?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:59:58 +0000 Frank Tang Frank Tang A senior Panamanian official said on Monday that Panama will remain flexible and potentially reach an agreement with CK Hutchison as the Latin American country navigates the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. “We are working on a plan in case that [Panama’s Supreme Court] ruling goes against the extension of the contract” for CK Hutchison, said Jose Ramon Icaza, Panama’s minister of canal affairs. “In that case, we have to step in as the Panama Maritime Authority to take... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3329723/panama-ports-deal-ck-hutchison-gets-encouraging-signs-panamanian-government?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:39:00 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Panamanian authorities on Tuesday announced an US$8.5 billion plan to modernise and expand the Panama Canal over the next decade, while sidestepping questions on whether Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison or others seen as having links to China could join future projects amid US concerns about Beijing’s influence over the waterway. Hutchison Ports, a unit of CK Hutchison, has managed terminals in Balboa and Colon – on opposite ends of the trade channel – since the 1990s. Its role has drawn sharp... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325783/announcing-canal-revamp-panama-dodges-questions-about-chinese-ownership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325783/announcing-canal-revamp-panama-dodges-questions-about-chinese-ownership?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:08:27 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu CK Hutchison Holdings’ controversial US$23 billion deal to sell 43 overseas ports – including two at the Panama Canal – will not be completed this year, group co-managing director Frank Sixt said in a post-results briefing on Thursday. Sixt updated analysts about the progress of the proposed sale after the company posted a 92 per cent plunge in its interim profit, as various one-off costs amounting to HK$10.47 billion (US$1.3 billion) weighed on its performance, according to an exchange... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3321872/ck-hutchison-first-half-profit-drops-92-one-costs-uk-vodafone-three-merger?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:12:43 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen China has clashed with the United States in a UN session over the Panama Canal, a flash point in bilateral ties under the Trump administration, while accusing Washington of being “the biggest disrupter of peace and stability” in the South China Sea. “China has always respected the permanent neutrality of the canal and firmly supports Panama in safeguarding its sovereignty over the canal to ensure its openness and smooth operation,” Fu Cong, China’s ambassador to the United Nations, told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321555/china-accuses-us-using-lies-pretext-seeking-control-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321555/china-accuses-us-using-lies-pretext-seeking-control-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:26:01 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick The US ambassador to Panama on Wednesday called for the removal of Chinese-linked operators from key Panama Canal ports, sharpening Washington’s campaign to curb Beijing’s alleged influence over Latin American strategic infrastructure. Speaking during a visit to Colon, Kevin Marino Cabrera criticised Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison, and said Washington supported efforts to replace it. “Our position is that they are a bad operator. They have not done a good... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3321147/us-envoy-calls-barring-chinese-linked-operators-key-panama-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3321147/us-envoy-calls-barring-chinese-linked-operators-key-panama-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 19:09:11 +0000 Aileen Chuang Aileen Chuang The Tsz Shan Monastery, built by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, has published a new book, offering a peek into the philosophy and wisdom of Hong Kong’s wealthiest man, whose own rags-to-riches life story has inspired generations of entrepreneurs. Titled “Eternity in Light”, the five-chapter tome was published to mark the monastery’s 10th anniversary, featuring writings by scholars of Buddhism and professors of architecture about the landmark in Tai Po in Hong Kong’s New Territories. The Li Ka Shing... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3321003/tsz-shan-publishes-10th-anniversary-book-offering-peek-li-ka-shings-philosophy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3321003/tsz-shan-publishes-10th-anniversary-book-offering-peek-li-ka-shings-philosophy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:30:10 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s US$22.8 billion ports sale, already mired in opposition from China, faces new challenges after Panama moved to take back terminals at either end of the Panama Canal. The central American nation’s comptroller general last week asked the local Supreme Court to revoke a 2021 contract to run ports on the vital shipping lane, saying it was unconstitutional and bad for the country. President Jose Raul Mulino later floated the idea of running the Balboa and Cristobal... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3320811/ck-hutchisons-us228-billion-ports-deal-flounders-panama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3320811/ck-hutchisons-us228-billion-ports-deal-flounders-panama?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:01:57 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A state partnership would fundamentally alter the operating structure of two key Panama Canal ports and could trigger significant losses for Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings, which is facing mounting hurdles over a US$23 billion asset sale, experts have said. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate is in the grip of a legal and political firestorm in the Central American nation which threatens its control over the two politically sensitive ports at either end of the strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320721/another-storm-brews-ck-hutchison-under-panama-ports-partnership-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320721/another-storm-brews-ck-hutchison-under-panama-ports-partnership-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 13:51:01 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings has called for the rule of law to be respected after Panama took legal action to nullify its ports contracts, with the country’s leader also suggesting its operations be taken over by state partnerships. Legal experts said on Friday that the Hong Kong-based conglomerate could face “significant financial, operational and reputational losses” if the two Panama Canal ports it operated were taken over. Panama’s president, Jose Raul Mulino,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320503/panama-ports-deal-hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-urges-respect-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320503/panama-ports-deal-hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-urges-respect-rule-law?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 15:48:45 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Panama’s chief prosecutor said on Tuesday that more than 160 actions have been taken so far in a high-profile investigation into alleged wrongdoing by Panama Ports Company, the unit of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings that operates two Panama Canal ports, as the country finds itself in the crosshairs of a deepening power struggle between the US and China. Attorney General Luis Carlos Gomez said that prosecutors are conducting interviews, issuing special requests and deploying investigative... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320052/panama-logs-over-160-actions-ports-investigation-amid-us-china-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3320052/panama-logs-over-160-actions-ports-investigation-amid-us-china-canal-dispute?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 17:35:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings may win Beijing’s support through its plan to bring in a mainland Chinese company as a strategic investor in the controversial sale of its global port stakes, but the change in tack has also fuelled uncertainty, experts have said. Analysts said that the planned US$23 billion deal to sell CK Hutchison’s 43 overseas ports, including two at the Panama Canal, could become a bargaining chip between the US and China as they held trade talks in Sweden. Experts weighed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3319895/will-ck-hutchisons-plan-tap-mainland-chinese-firm-panama-ports-deal-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:01:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The United States military teamed with Panamanian police to conduct a series of new exercises aimed at protecting the Panama Canal, amid tensions over alleged Chinese influence along the prized trade route. To kick off the drills, three US Army helicopters arrived in Panama on Sunday – two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and a CH-47 Chinook – landing at the Panama-Pacific Airport, formerly the US Howard base. Michael Palacios, subcommissioner of Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318075/us-conducts-military-drills-panama-canal-amid-trumps-china-influence-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318075/us-conducts-military-drills-panama-canal-amid-trumps-china-influence-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Jul 2025 02:16:28 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The US$23 billion sale of global port stakes by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison could be subject to substantial changes if it is not already on the verge of collapse, with Chinese and Panamanian authorities possibly rejecting the terms, legal and logistics experts have said ahead of the deal’s deadline for exclusive negotiation. Their analysis followed national security and anti-monopoly concerns cited by both countries, with a recent news report suggesting that a state-owned shipping company was now... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3314784/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-ports-sale-thin-ice-amid-us-china-tensions-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:30:07 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong businesses must consider national interests while pursuing commercial deals, the city’s leader has said, arguing that the two are not mutually exclusive. In an interview with the Post as he marked three years in office, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stressed the importance of local companies keeping national interests in mind while seeking profits. Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holdings has recently drawn the ire of Beijing over a controversial deal to sell its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3313543/national-and-commercial-interests-must-go-together-john-lee-tells-hong-kong-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3313543/national-and-commercial-interests-must-go-together-john-lee-tells-hong-kong-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 02:00:22 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong and Macau affairs has urged business leaders from both cities to defend national interests, a move seen by analysts as a “wake-up call” for firms such as tycoon Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison group, currently embroiled in the Panama ports saga, to choose a side. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), spelled out four “hopes” for entrepreneurs and the business sector during a closed-door meeting with Macau business representatives on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3310193/xia-baolong-urges-hong-kong-macau-business-leaders-defend-national-interests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3310193/xia-baolong-urges-hong-kong-macau-business-leaders-defend-national-interests?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 10:43:30 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has said it would be impossible for the controversial Panama ports sale to proceed under any illegal or non-compliant circumstances after mainland China’s market regulator asked the parties involved not to circumvent an ongoing antitrust probe into the deal last month. Monday’s statement, the first directly issued by Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate addressing the controversy since Beijing raised concerns, said it had originally planned to discuss the details of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310065/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-holdings-pledges-panama-port-deal-wont-violate-laws?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3310065/hong-kongs-ck-hutchison-holdings-pledges-panama-port-deal-wont-violate-laws?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 16:20:45 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing has made a rare public appearance, attending a concert at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday night but declining to answer questions on his company’s controversial Panama Canal ports deal. Li, 96, was sitting in a bike-like wheelchair, smiling and saying “thank you” to people waiting when he exited a lift at the stadium where Taiwanese band Mayday was performing. He was also asked if he had anything to say about CK Hutchison Holdings’ move to sell its overseas ports... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3309874/hong-kongs-li-ka-shing-makes-rare-public-appearance-declines-discuss-port-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3309874/hong-kongs-li-ka-shing-makes-rare-public-appearance-declines-discuss-port-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 May 2025 14:31:13 +0000