COSCO buys minority share of Hamburg seaport terminal - my comments
Seaports are par of the critical infrastructure of all countries. Almost 90 percent of global trade in goods is being processed in seaport. Seaports are not only nots of international flows of goods but take a central role in global trade data. Seaports undergo a rapid process of digitalization and digitization. In light of that, the decision of German chancellor Olaf Scholz to allow a Chinese state-owned shipping company to invest in Germany's largest port is risky.
After a controversial discussion, the German government allowed COSCO, a state-owned Chinese shipping company, to take a miniorty share in one of four terminals in Hamburg. At first, the company was supposed to control 35% of the "tollerort" terminal. After meeting resistance from six ministries in charge of investment screening, German intelligence services and the EU Commission, the share was reduced to 24%. This does not give COSCO any veto power.
Where are the risks of such investments? What is the role of digital technology?
Read my commentary (in German) or watch and listen to my media comments below (in German).
Source: ZDF
Source: Deutschlandfunk
Source: MDR
Source: WDR
Source: NDR info
Source: BR
Source: RBB - radio 1 Overview of media comments:
"德國總理肖爾茨堅持中資入股漢堡港 批評之聲高漲(圖)", 27 October 2022, Secret China.
"Politologe: China möchte andere Länder von sich abhängig machen", 26 October 2022, Deuschlandfunk.
"Chinas Einfluss", 26 October 2022, ZDF heute in Europa.
"Bundesregierung genehmigt chinesische Beteiligung an Hamburger Hafen", 26 October 2022, MDR aktuell.
"Geschäfte mit China - müssen wir vorsichtiger sein?", 26 October 2022, NDR Redezeit (radio).
"Hamburger Hafen - Regierung erlaubt China- Beteiligung", 26 October 2022, BR 24 TV.
"Möglicher Kompromiss: "Ich bin nicht beruhigt"", 26 October 2022, rbb radio 1.
"朔尔茨坚持中资入股汉堡港妥协方案", 25 October 2022, RFI.
Interview in der SRF Tagesschau (Hamburg harbor/COSCO), 25 October 2022, SRF (TV news of Switzerland).
"Tagesgespräch": China vor Anker – Hafengeschäft erlauben?, 24 October 2022, WDR 5.