Overview

• CK Hutchison Holdings is finalizing a $23 billion deal to sell its global port operations, including two ports near the Panama Canal, to a BlackRock-led U.S. consortium.
• Beijing has intensified its opposition, with state-affiliated media and government offices criticizing the sale as harmful to China's national interests.
• The Hong Kong government and CK Hutchison are reportedly exploring alternatives to the deal, but options remain limited due to potential financial and political costs.
• Pro-Beijing media have accused CK Hutchison of succumbing to U.S. coercion, framing the sale as undermining China's strategic interests.
• The sale highlights the geopolitical significance of the Panama Canal and the challenges faced by Hong Kong businesses balancing commercial and political pressures.