The Chinese Communist Party has begun playing hardball in negotiations over future control of the Panama Canal as United States intervention in Venezuela threatens to further disrupt Chinese economic interests in South America.

China is threatening to block a U.S.-proposed sale of two ports on the Panama Canal controlled by the Hong Kong firm CK Hutchinson to the American firm BlackRock. Having previously demanded Shanghai-based firm Cosco be brought in with an equal stake in the ports, the CCP is now demanding the company be given a majority stake, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.