China sharpens maritime economic statecraft amid US tensions
15 October 2025 — Recent Chinese actions, from sanctioning U.S. subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean to imposing steep port fees on U.S.-linked vessels, illustrate Beijing’s growing use of targeted economic tools in the maritime domain.
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In a recent interview with The Associated Press (AP News), Kun Cao, Senior Manager at Reddal, noted that these measures from China are not symbolic gestures but carefully calibrated moves that “weaponize shipbuilding” and logistics influence.
By extending penalties to third-country firms and tailoring fees to U.S.-owned, operated, or built ships, China signals that it is willing to exert pressure beyond traditional trade channels. Beijing aims to leverage its dominance in global shipbuilding to challenge U.S. influence in maritime commerce – even as the U.S. remains a minor player in ship construction. The result is a new phase of economic competition where control over industrial capacity and trade infrastructure becomes a strategic instrument of power.
Read the full articles featuring Kun Cao’s insights via the following links:
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China hits US ships with retaliatory port fees before trade talks
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China bans dealings with 5 US subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean
Tags
China, Marine industry, Maritime, China's maritime
