Management of Panama Canal ports by Hong Kong firm poses risks, US House panel hears
- Hutchison Ports’ ties to Beijing could lead to delays in American civilian and military shipping in case of a conflict with Taiwan, says US lawmaker
- Washington needs to come up with a better alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, witnesses tell US House select committee on China
A Hong Kong-controlled company managing ports in the Panama Canal was put in the spotlight on Thursday during a US congressional hearing about China’s global development strategy.
Hutchison Ports PPC, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, was evoked by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois, who asked a witness about the risks associated with the Panamanian government allowing Chinese companies to manage ports on the strategic canal.
Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House select committee on China, did not name Hutchison explicitly, but noted that the company’s ties to Beijing might lead to delays in American civilian and military shipping in the event of a conflict with Taiwan. He also drew attention to how Chinese-backed ports could be used as military bases to further Beijing’s objectives.
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But in 2021, concerns about Chinese influence returned to the forefront when Panama announced that it would renew the company’s contract after it was set to expire in 2022.
