https://www.scmp.com/rss/522756/feed The latest news and top stories on Jose Raul Mulino. A Panamanian politician, diplomat and lawyer, he assumed office as the 39th President in 2024. Mulino previously served as Minister of Government and Justice and Minister of Public Security, where he was recognised for efforts to combat crime and enhance public safety. His career also includes roles as Minister of Foreign Relations and Deputy Minister. A maritime law expert, he co-founded a law firm. As president, his focus includes economic... 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Khushboo Razdan,Igor Patrick Khushboo Razdan,Igor Patrick Washington on Friday welcomed a Panamanian court ruling cancelling a contract held by a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two ports along the Panama Canal, a decision seen as a boost to the United States’ efforts to counter Chinese influence in the western hemisphere. The reaction came as Panama’s government sought to reassure workers and investors on the ground that trade and jobs would not be affected. “The United States is encouraged by the recent Panamanian... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341908/us-hails-panama-high-court-ruling-against-ck-hutchisons-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3341908/us-hails-panama-high-court-ruling-against-ck-hutchisons-ports-concession?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 21:06:42 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China has protested to Panama over the removal on the weekend of a monument to the Chinese community, calling on Panamanian authorities to investigate the incident. The Chinese-Panamanian Friendship Park has reportedly been in need of repair and the demolition was deemed by Beijing as “hurting the broad interests of China-Panama friendship”. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday that China was “seriously dissatisfied” with Arraijan authorities for the demolition of the park... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338051/china-protests-panama-over-destruction-memorial-chinese-labourers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3338051/china-protests-panama-over-destruction-memorial-chinese-labourers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen China has accused the United States of showing “a lack of basic respect” for Central America following its threat to ban officials and others from the region with ties to the Communist Party from entering the country. The State Department said last month that it would “restrict US visas for Central American nationals … intentionally acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party” and who “knowingly direct, authorise, fund, provide significant support to, or carry out activities that undermine... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329829/china-says-us-visa-threats-central-america-show-lack-basic-respect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3329829/china-says-us-visa-threats-central-america-show-lack-basic-respect?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:11:08 +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 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 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 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 Frank Chen,Igor Patrick Frank Chen,Igor Patrick The head of a US congressional committee on Thursday, warned Panama over Chinese influence on the Panama Canal, following reports that leading Chinese state-owned conglomerates are bidding for port concessions there now for sale by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings. In his letter to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority Luis Roquebert, Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, expressed... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3318655/us-house-committee-chair-warns-panama-about-chinese-influence-over-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/3318655/us-house-committee-chair-warns-panama-about-chinese-influence-over-panama-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:23:26 +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