Trump Administration Moves to Counter China’s Expanding Global Port Network

Washington, D.C. — The Trump administration is spearheading its most ambitious maritime strategy in decades, seeking to diminish China’s control over key global ports and bring more strategic terminals under Western influence, according to multiple sources familiar with the plan.

The effort, described as the largest U.S. maritime initiative since the 1970s, reflects growing concerns in Washington that China’s rapidly expanding port network could give Beijing a decisive advantage in a future conflict. Officials believe America’s commercial shipping fleet is too limited to provide sufficient logistical support during wartime and that U.S. reliance on foreign-owned vessels and facilities is excessive.

Strategic Push to Regain Influence

Options under consideration include supporting private U.S. and Western firms in acquiring Chinese stakes in major ports. One example cited was BlackRock’s proposed purchase of assets from Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison, which operates terminals in 23 countries, including locations near the Panama Canal.

U.S. officials have expressed particular concern over Chinese holdings in Europe, the Caribbean, and even U.S. West Coast ports. COSCO, one of China’s largest state-owned shipping companies, already controls a 67% stake in Greece’s Piraeus Port Authority, a vital gateway linking Europe, Africa, and Asia. The Pentagon added COSCO to its list of Chinese firms with ties to the military earlier this year, signaling heightened scrutiny.

China, in response, has defended its global port investments as legitimate economic cooperation under international law, rejecting what it calls Washington’s “hegemonism and bullying.”

Mediterranean and Caribbean Focus

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission recently began reviewing seven strategic chokepoints, including the Strait of Gibraltar, amid concerns about China’s growing access to Spanish ports such as Valencia and Bilbao. In the Caribbean, officials have flagged China Merchants’ stake in Kingston’s container terminal in Jamaica as a major security risk, citing its position as a key transshipment hub.

During a visit to Kingston in March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that China’s port strategy relied on “predatory practices,” using state-backed companies to underbid competitors and acquire strategic assets.

Expanding U.S. Capabilities

President Trump has already signed an executive order to revive American shipbuilding, expand U.S.-controlled shipping registries, and impose new fees on Chinese-built or flagged vessels entering American ports. His administration is also considering establishing a new registry in the U.S. Virgin Islands to attract ships under a U.S.-controlled flag with looser requirements than the domestic registry.

The White House has even floated controversial proposals such as seeking greater control over Greenland, citing its strategic proximity to the Arctic and vital shipping lanes.

A Renewed Maritime Rivalry

China currently holds stakes in 129 port projects worldwide and boasts a shipbuilding industry estimated to be 230 times the size of America’s, according to the U.S. Navy. Analysts warn it could take decades for the United States to close the gap.

“Washington sees Chinese port investments as a direct national security threat,” said Stuart Poole-Robb, founder of risk consultancy KCS Group. “The concern is that Beijing could exploit its control over these assets for espionage, military leverage, or to disrupt global supply chains during crises.”

With tensions escalating, both allies and rivals are bracing for what could become the sharpest maritime power contest since the Cold War.