Gordon Chang

Well, two developments since Marco Rubio went there on his first trip as Secretary of State. First of all, the Panamanian president, Molino, said that he would not renew his Belt and Road memorandum with China, that he might even cancel the existing one. But the news this week is that BlackRock, the American financials company,

Well, two developments since Marco Rubio went there on his first trip as Secretary of State. First of all, the Panamanian president, Molino, said that he would not renew his Belt and Road memorandum with China, that he might even cancel the existing one. But the news this week is that BlackRock, the American financials company,

Well, two developments since Marco Rubio went there on his first trip as Secretary of State. First of all, the Panamanian president, Molino, said that he would not renew his Belt and Road memorandum with China, that he might even cancel the existing one. But the news this week is that BlackRock, the American financials company,

asset manager, biggest in the world, by the way, is buying and taking over two Chinese port operations in the canal from CK Hutchison, which is the mega port operator around the world in Hong Kong, subject to Chinese rule. Those are the ports at Balboa on the Pacific side of the canal and at Cristobal on the Atlantic side.

asset manager, biggest in the world, by the way, is buying and taking over two Chinese port operations in the canal from CK Hutchison, which is the mega port operator around the world in Hong Kong, subject to Chinese rule. Those are the ports at Balboa on the Pacific side of the canal and at Cristobal on the Atlantic side.

asset manager, biggest in the world, by the way, is buying and taking over two Chinese port operations in the canal from CK Hutchison, which is the mega port operator around the world in Hong Kong, subject to Chinese rule. Those are the ports at Balboa on the Pacific side of the canal and at Cristobal on the Atlantic side.

And these are the two port operations that have attracted a lot of attention because they could be easily turned into Chinese military bases when Beijing gives the order. So that is stunning news. It means that China is being muscled out of the canal zone, which is great because China still can block the canal, but it's losing its basis to do that.

And these are the two port operations that have attracted a lot of attention because they could be easily turned into Chinese military bases when Beijing gives the order. So that is stunning news. It means that China is being muscled out of the canal zone, which is great because China still can block the canal, but it's losing its basis to do that.

And these are the two port operations that have attracted a lot of attention because they could be easily turned into Chinese military bases when Beijing gives the order. So that is stunning news. It means that China is being muscled out of the canal zone, which is great because China still can block the canal, but it's losing its basis to do that.

There are other Chinese operations in the canal zone. We need to get rid of those as well. But this is a very good sign. And it means that in other countries that are getting sick and tired of China, they'll be inspired to do the same thing. So with a little pressure from President Trump. We can do it.

There are other Chinese operations in the canal zone. We need to get rid of those as well. But this is a very good sign. And it means that in other countries that are getting sick and tired of China, they'll be inspired to do the same thing. So with a little pressure from President Trump. We can do it.

There are other Chinese operations in the canal zone. We need to get rid of those as well. But this is a very good sign. And it means that in other countries that are getting sick and tired of China, they'll be inspired to do the same thing. So with a little pressure from President Trump. We can do it.

Yeah, I think it is, actually, in Latin America, for sure. We've had some problems with some of the other Chinese ports, but generally, Beijing has been able to negotiate its way around them, most clearly in Sri Lanka. But yeah, this is really terrific news because this could be the beginning of not just a trend in Latin America, but around the world as well.

Yeah, I think it is, actually, in Latin America, for sure. We've had some problems with some of the other Chinese ports, but generally, Beijing has been able to negotiate its way around them, most clearly in Sri Lanka. But yeah, this is really terrific news because this could be the beginning of not just a trend in Latin America, but around the world as well.

Yeah, I think it is, actually, in Latin America, for sure. We've had some problems with some of the other Chinese ports, but generally, Beijing has been able to negotiate its way around them, most clearly in Sri Lanka. But yeah, this is really terrific news because this could be the beginning of not just a trend in Latin America, but around the world as well.

Yeah. In the People's Republic, no entity, no person can ignore or disobey an order from the Communist Party. And that's also true of Hong Kong. Hong Kong was supposed to be autonomous, supposed to have one country, two systems for 50 years. But that ended in 2020 with China adopting the national security law for Hong Kong. which meant essentially full Chinese control of Hong Kong.

Yeah. In the People's Republic, no entity, no person can ignore or disobey an order from the Communist Party. And that's also true of Hong Kong. Hong Kong was supposed to be autonomous, supposed to have one country, two systems for 50 years. But that ended in 2020 with China adopting the national security law for Hong Kong. which meant essentially full Chinese control of Hong Kong.

Yeah. In the People's Republic, no entity, no person can ignore or disobey an order from the Communist Party. And that's also true of Hong Kong. Hong Kong was supposed to be autonomous, supposed to have one country, two systems for 50 years. But that ended in 2020 with China adopting the national security law for Hong Kong. which meant essentially full Chinese control of Hong Kong.

And so we had to assume from a national security point of view that CK Hutchison would close the port, the canal zone, if given an order to do that. And clearly, the Chinese military and Chinese operatives, Ministry of State Security, were based in the canal zone, probably at those two port operations. So, it was really important to get them back.

And so we had to assume from a national security point of view that CK Hutchison would close the port, the canal zone, if given an order to do that. And clearly, the Chinese military and Chinese operatives, Ministry of State Security, were based in the canal zone, probably at those two port operations. So, it was really important to get them back.