The US is quietly looking for ways to replace China in the global port network

The US Navy's Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser is anchored at Admiral Noel Antonio Rodriguez Justavino Port, near the entrance to the Panama Canal, on August 29. (Photo: Reuters)

The move is part of a broader US push to expand its influence in the seas, as Washington increasingly fears it will be at a disadvantage against China in the event of a conflict.

The Trump administration believes the U.S. commercial shipping fleet is ill-equipped to provide logistical support to the military in wartime and that Washington is over-reliant on foreign ships and ports, officials said.

The White House is considering supporting private U.S. or Western companies to buy Chinese stakes in ports, three sources said. They did not mention any specific companies, other than BlackRock ’s proposal to buy Hong Kong-listed multinational CK Hutchison’s port assets in 23 countries, including the Panama Canal.

The White House and the US Treasury Department did not respond to requests for comment.

In addition to the Panama Canal , US officials are also concerned about China's acquisition of maritime infrastructure in places like Greece and Spain, the Caribbean and US West Coast ports, according to sources .

A spokesman for the Chinese diplomatic mission in Washington said Beijing is cooperating normally with other countries within the framework of international law.

"China has always firmly opposed illegal and unreasonable unilateral sanctions, so-called long-arm jurisdiction, as well as actions that infringe upon and undermine the legitimate rights and interests of other countries through economic coercion, hegemony and bullying," the spokesperson said.

The United States is eyeing Chinese interests in the Greek port of Piraeus, three sources said . Located in the eastern Mediterranean, Piraeus is an important hub on the trade route connecting Europe, Africa and Asia.

COSCO, one of China's largest port and shipping groups, holds a 67% stake in Piraeus Port Authority.

Some Chinese investors are concerned that Washington may want to target COSCO's operations in Greece, Reuters reported, citing sources close to Chinese investors in the Greek shipping industry.

COSCO and the Greek government did not respond to requests for comment.

In January, the US Department of War blacklisted COSCO for its ties to the Chinese military. While this has not resulted in a ban on US companies doing business with those on the list, it could signal that Washington is considering its next move.

China owns or leases a vast network of ports through companies such as COSCO, China Merchants and SIPG.

According to a report released last year by the Council on Foreign Relations (a US think tank), as of August 2024, China had invested in 129 port projects worldwide through various companies.

According to the US Navy, China's shipbuilding industry is more than 230 times larger than America's shipbuilding capacity, meaning it could take Washington decades to catch up.