Think Tank: China's Reach Goes to Latin American Ports

Chinese companies are now involved in the construction or operation of 31 active ports in Latin America and the Caribbean — a significantly higher number than previously reported, according to new findings from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Financial Times reports.

This includes ports built by companies such as CK Hutchison and state-backed entities such as China Merchants Port.

U.S. analysts warn that key ports — especially Kingston, Jamaica, and Manzanillo and Veracruz, Mexico — present strategic vulnerabilities. The CSIS assessment scored them based on U.S. trade volume, naval activity, and proximity to military assets.