The verdict is in: China has been denied an important foothold in the Western Hemisphere. A recent ruling by Panamanian courts provides the Trump administration with another victory in its efforts to oust the Middle Kingdom from America’s backyard.

On Jan. 30, the Panamanian courts ruled that a concession to Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings, was unconstitutional. Panama and PPC first signed the two contracts to operate the ports at Balboa and Cristobal at each end of the canal in 1997.