When China owns the ports PDF Print E-mail
Written by Stumo   
Wednesday, 28 November 2007

The Chinese government owns many ports in the world, directly or through government controlled companies.  No big deal?

When American warships needed fuel and protection in Hong Kong's harbor, China said no.  Stay out.  No explanation.

The admirals said China’s refusal to lend assistance to the minesweepers was a worrisome repudiation of historical principles calling on all nations to assist ships in danger at sea. 

Hutchinson Whampoa Limited, the holding company of billionaire Li Ka-shing, owns ports on Mexico's Pacific coast, both ends of the Panama Canal, and many others in the world.  Commentator Jerome Corsi writes:

According to a declassified U.S. government intelligence report that Judicial Watch obtained in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, “Li is directly connected to Beijing and is willing to use his business influence to further the aims of the Chinese Government.” 

  From the company's website:

Hutchison's achievements include being:

*   the world's leading port investor, developer and operator with 46 ports across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The U.S. Defense Department has designated many of those ports strategic. 

What happens when China picks and chooses who can use those ports?  The actions will probably be more subtle, however.  Plausible deniability.

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