Part 13/15:
However, China’s demand for majority ownership and veto power in these ports signals a strategic escalation. The U.S. and involved companies have deemed these demands unacceptable, viewing them as infringements on the U.S.-Panama treaty and threats to regional security and economic stability. Negotiations have reached an impasse, with Beijing indicating it may seek to leverage its regulatory authority to block or influence the sale further—an illustration of how infrastructure deals have become entangled with geopolitical rivalries.
This standoff exemplifies how the emerging U.S.-China cold war extends into global trade infrastructure, transforming port deals into geopolitical battlegrounds.