Chinese companies have made significant investments in 31 port terminals across Europe, including key ports such as Piraeus and Zeebrugge, and hold nearly 25% of the Hamburg port, alongside minority stakes in other major European ports like Rotterdam, Antwerp, Las Palmas, Valencia, Bilbao, Stockholm, Barcelona, Gdynia, Le Havre, and Thessaloniki.
This extensive control over port infrastructure by Beijing raises major concerns regarding the national security of European states, particularly given that, according to a 2017 law, the Chinese government has the authority to intervene in the operations of these ports and dictate their management.
In an unprecedented strategic expansion, Chinese companies have significantly increased their presence in European port infrastructure, now holding substantial stakes in 31 port terminals across the continent. Recent analyses indicate that this control over crucial ports such as Piraeus (Greece) and Zeebrugge (Belgium), as well as significant holdings in Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Valencia, poses serious concerns for the national security of EU member states.
China’s maritime presence in the EU has grown at an unprecedented pace due to investments in strategic port infrastructure, according to a report from the European Parliament’s Research Service.
The report warns that past experiences of other countries should serve as a lesson regarding the asymmetric collaboration promoted by China. Beijing launched the Maritime Silk Road Initiative in 2013 and has made substantial progress, rapidly becoming a major competitor and securing long-term control over ports worldwide.
Over the past 20 years, Chinese investors have acquired significant stakes in 31 European ports, forming part of a global portfolio of 96 ports controlled or operated by Chinese companies in international business. According to a study by the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) and the Franco-German Committee for Economic Relations (CERFA), 29 of these ports are exclusively operated by China, highlighting the scale of this expansion.
The three major Chinese companies – COSCO Shipping Ports, Hutchison Port Holdings, and China Merchants Ports (CMP) – are the primary players in this domain. For example, COSCO owns 100% of Terminals 1 and 2 in Piraeus and 67% of the entire port. In Belgium, the company controls 90% of the Zeebrugge port and recently acquired a 24.99% stake in the Hamburg port. Additionally, COSCO has stakes in the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Valencia.
China Merchants Ports, the sixth-largest global operator, controls 49% of Terminal Link, with stakes in renowned ports including Rotterdam and Antwerp. Hutchison Port Holdings, the second-largest port operator globally, is present in ports such as Rotterdam, Barcelona, and Gdynia, among others.
This Chinese expansion raises significant security issues for the European Union. In 2017, China enacted a law allowing intervention in the operations of Chinese international transport companies, including the management of foreign ports. This means Beijing can directly influence European port activities, creating potential risks for the economic and national security of European states.
Moreover, experts emphasize that the acquisition of European ports by Chinese companies not only impacts trade flows but could also serve as a tool for geopolitical pressure. For instance, in the case of the Hamburg port stake acquisition, Cosco threatened to redirect goods to other owned ports, demonstrating the potential for market manipulation.
Additionally, Chinese acquisitions include not only port infrastructure but also critical technologies and information that could influence international security. Military experts have warned that Chinese control over European ports provides opportunities to gather sensitive information about transport and operations in these facilities, with possible implications for geopolitical conflicts and national security.
In conclusion, China’s expansion into European port infrastructure raises serious questions about national security and the integrity of the EU’s economic operations. In light of this expansion, it is crucial for EU member states to evaluate and implement appropriate measures to protect critical infrastructure and ensure a balanced approach to external influence.
