“It is idiocy beyond any imagination for Frank Sixt or the whole Board of CK Hutchison to see the deal with BlackRock as purely commercial. Everyone knows that the United States is already on a war path with China and will do whatever it takes to crush China and the Chinese people.” 

On 4 Mar 2025 CK Hutchison said it had agreed to sell its entire 80% stake in Hutchison Ports – which owns, operates and develops 43 ports comprising 199 berths in 23 countries – to a consortium led by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) for US$22.8 bln. However, it will not sell its ports in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Should CK Hutchison have sold the 43 ports? The simple answer is no.

First, where are these ports? As can be clearly seen, the ports of CK Hutchison are located strategically all over the world (table 1, figure 1). 

Zoom in

Zoom in

Ports are of tremendous strategic importance to any country but its importance skyrockets for a large economy like China, which is also the largest trading nation in the world. Not only does China export a lot to the whole world, she imports a lot as well from the entire world. China is