"Panama Ports Company (PPC), part of the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, said the Panamanian government acted in disregard for the rule of law. It decried what it called the latest steps to invade and take the property of PPC during a search on Thursday. It also accused authorities of entering a private storage site without notice and ignoring requests to safeguard sensitive corporate data."
"Panama's government has robustly denied Chinese control of the waterway. But last month, the country's Supreme Court annulled deals that gave the Panama Ports Company control over two canal ports. The court ruled that the concessions provided to the company were unconstitutional. China has alleged that the court case was a reaction to hegemonic pressure."
"The two ports in question, the Balboa Port on the Pacific Ocean side and the Cristobal Port at the Atlantic end, handle about 39 percent of all of Panama's container traffic. The ports are located at the entrances of the Panama Canal, but they do not fall under the supervision of the canal authority."
Panamanian authorities searched and seized property from Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, intensifying US-China tensions over the Panama Canal. The company protested the government's actions as violations of rule of law and corporate data protection. Panama's Supreme Court previously annulled the company's concessions to operate two critical canal ports—Balboa and Cristobal—ruling them unconstitutional. These ports handle 39 percent of Panama's container traffic. China alleged the court decision resulted from US pressure, while Panama's president asserted the country's independence. Temporary operations were assigned to Maersk and MSC until new agreements are established.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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