Panama President Defends Port Takeover Amid US-China Tensions
Panama President Jose Raul Mulino has defended his country's decision to take over port contracts previously held by Hong Kong's CK Hutchison, amidst a geopolitical dispute involving the United States and China. The Panama Supreme Court's decision to revoke CK Hutchison's port concessions, which had been in place for nearly three decades, is seen as influenced by U.S. efforts to limit Chinese control over the strategic Panama Canal. In response, Panama has temporarily assigned the port operations to Maersk's APM Terminals and MSC's TIL Panama. CK Hutchison plans to challenge this move through international arbitration, claiming wrongful takeover. Despite the tensions, President Mulino emphasized maintaining a positive relationship with China, noting a recent diplomatic message from China acknowledging the arbitration process. However, he expressed concern over the increased detentions of Panama-flagged ships in China, which has drawn support from the U.S. and its allies for Panama's sovereignty. 
