In Panama, Security Forces Expelled Employees Of A Chinese Company From Two Ports

Amid a legal dispute over the canal.

Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said Tuesday that Panamanian authorities have threatened its employees with criminal prosecution if they do not leave two key Panama Canal ports following a ruling by Panama's Supreme Court that nullified the contracts of Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, to manage the terminals, writes The Moscow Times.

Washington and Beijing are disputing control of the shipping artery linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Siloviki removed CK Hutchison employees from their workplaces and barred them from contacting company management.

CK Hutchison said it believes Panama's decision to cancel PPC contracts is illegal.

Panama's state maritime authority took control of the ports of Balboa and Cristobal to avoid disruption of operations when the court instate order was published and thus came into effect.

The Panamanian government has granted temporary concessions to operate the Balboa terminal to APM Terminals Panama, a subsidiary of Maersk. Operations at Cristobal will be handled by TIL Panama, a subsidiary of MSC.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Beijing intends to firmly uphold the legitimate rights and interests of the companies concerned.

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