IA possible compromise is emerging in the dispute over the Chinese state-owned company Cosco’s planned participation in a container terminal in the port of Hamburg. According to information from the FAZ, the traffic light coalition could allow the Chinese shipping company to take a 24.9 percent stake in the Tollerort container terminal. In government circles there was talk of an “emergency solution” on Monday evening. Originally, the port operator HHLA and Cosco had agreed on a 35 percent stake. Several line ministries had spoken out in favor of banning this participation. The Chancellery, on the other hand, urged the transaction to be made possible. Without a cabinet decision, the review period would expire at the end of October and Cosco could buy the 35 percent stake in the container terminal as planned.
The city of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Günther are in favor of the shipping company getting involved because they see this as positive for the economic development of the port. On the other hand, there had been sharp warnings from the traffic light groups and the CDU in the Bundestag against the entry of the Chinese state-owned company and possible political influence by Beijing. Most recently, Greens co-boss Omid Nouripour had pleaded for a rejection.
Details from the risk analysis
A risk analysis prepared in August by the Federal Ministry of Economics comes to the conclusion that the planned participation of Cosco with a 35 percent stake in the container terminal in Tollerort should be prohibited in order to ensure public order and security in Germany. China’s strategic influence would “probably be significantly strengthened” by an unrestricted acquisition, it says. In the event of a crisis, infrastructure influenced by China could “not be available, or at least not without restrictions”. The analysis is available to the FAZ.
The Chinese economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter. The gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 3.9 percent compared to the same period last year, the statistics office in Beijing said on Monday. In the previous quarter, the Chinese economy grew by just 0.4 percent. Scholz will travel to China with a business delegation at the beginning of November. An overnight stay is not planned due to the strict Corona rules. It is a kind of “day trip,” said a government spokesman.
