The Chinese government has condemned a ruling from Panama’s top court, warning the Central American country “will inevitably pay a heavy price” unless it changes course.
The rebuke comes shortly after Panama’s Supreme Court ruled to void Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s licence to operate ports at either end of the canal.
The ruling was seen as a major victory for the Trump administration’s security ambitions in the Western Hemisphere. The White House has made blocking China’s influence over the Panama Canal one of its top priorities.
In a commentary posted on Tuesday on its WeChat account, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said the “logically flawed” and “utterly ridiculous” ruling was opposed by the Chinese government and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.
“The Panamanian authorities should recognize the situation and correct their course,” the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said, according to a Google translation.
