Dr. Nadia Helmy, an Associate Professor at Beni Suef University, has highlighted concerns regarding China's global port investments, which she says are intensifying Western apprehensions about supply chain disruptions and policy influence, particularly in South America and mineral-rich regions.
"China's control of ports enables Beijing to establish economic zones in other countries, particularly in South America (Washington's backyard," said Helmy. "China, through its giant companies, is playing to acquire global ports and those in South America and obtaining significant facilities for doing so, such that the Chinese owners and operators of these ports are granted privileged access to goods and product. The West fears that this will allow China to disrupt the supply of certain goods or even exert influence over other policies or economies. Beijing has focused its port investments in regions where these vital resources are located."
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, China has expanded its presence in Latin American ports through infrastructure investment and direct operation of port facilities. These investments reportedly provide Chinese companies with strategic access to key points in the seafood supply chain. The Council said that this access enhances China's ability to facilitate trade, including the movement of illicitly caught fish, potentially challenging local regulatory efforts.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that China maintains the world's largest distant-water fishing fleet, with over 17,000 vessels operating globally, including in Latin American waters. These fleets are frequently cited for involvement in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities. The FAO indicated that such activities pose significant challenges for regional governments and U.S. seafood importers seeking traceable and legal supply chains.
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative's 2025 National Trade Estimate Report, Chinese investment in Latin America's seafood sector—especially in Chile—has grown significantly in recent years. Some Chinese-owned or affiliated firms are now processing seafood in Chile and re-exporting these products to the United States under Chilean labels. The USTR noted that these practices have raised concerns among U.S. policymakers about the effectiveness of current trade enforcement.
Dr. Helmy earned her PhD in Chinese politics and was recognized as Egypt's youngest recipient of this degree at age 27. She leads the South and East Asia Studies Unit at Beni Suef University and has served as a visiting senior researcher at Lund University in Sweden.