Papers please: China raises pressure on Panama amid canal row with ship inspection wave

AI Summary

China has intensified port state control inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports as leverage following Panamanian courts voiding the operating rights of CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal. The move escalates an ongoing geopolitical and commercial dispute over canal control.

Beijing has increased its inspections on Panama-flagged vessels entering Chinese ports, a source from the shipping industry said, an action intended to raise the Latin American country’s stress level after its courts voided the operating rights of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison in the Panama Canal. Port state control (PSC) – the inspection regime countries may deploy to verify the compliance of foreign ships with various international standards – was being used as a form of leverage...