The stake comprises not just the two ports at either end of the Panama Canal, but also all 43 global ports belonging to C. K. Hutchison. Some say that this is in line with Trump's gloating about imposing a US$1 million levy on ships built in China calling at any USA controlled ports.
Anyway, there are about 835 ports around the world and the USA does not control every one of them. Moreover, ports in China, Hong Kong and in those countries friendly with China and depending on China trade are not going to cut their noses to spite their faces by following the USA's bidding.
Trump may use the Panama Canal to control or deny Chinese ships moving between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, but he is going to give the impetus for Nicaragua and Mexico to revisit projects to rival the Panama Canal to serve Chinese ships and owners of ships built in China transversing the two Oceans.
The Nicaragua Canal Project had been put on hold for decades and may be refloated if the benefits are seen to outweigh the environmental costs. This has been the sticking point, not that funding is not available. The Chinese were already willing to undertake the project, but due to environmental issues had to put that on hold. Building another canal with China's experience and with machineries at its disposal is going to be a piece of cake, not necessary taking decades. Suffice to say, even the Panama Canal is now seen as an environmental disaster due to climate change and freshwater insufficiency competing with civilian needs.
Anonymous
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