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Strategies & Market Trends : Asia Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (9756)	9/5/2000 11:35:13 AM
From: Tom Clarke	Respond to of 9980

Thanks for that info Steven. You just threw light on a situation that if properly reported wouldn't have given way to wild speculation of the Bircher variety. There are some interesting things happening in Panama and other parts Latin America, but it's difficult to find news stories about them. There is potential for trouble brewing in Colombia and there are positive developments in Chile and Argentina. Maybe it's time to start a Latin America Forum thread.

To: Dayuhan who wrote (9756)	9/6/2000 1:13:29 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9980

The story has been blown well out of proportion to suit political agendas, IMO Steven, I would agree with you. But there is another aspect to the story. The Chinese have been big investors in Panama and have serious banking operations there. Many folks I spoke with down there (I was last there back in 97) indicated to me that the Chinese bankers were only waiting for the US to withdraw before they increased their activities there and influencing the entire region in the void that would be left by the US departure. So making an issue of Hutchison-Whampoa was a convenient means of achieving a more over-riding concern, namely insuring that the US remained focused on the importance of Panama. Besides, everyone knows the canal is essentially indefensible.. I won't amplify how I know this, but suffice it to say it wouldn't take much to put the canal out of commission for quite awhile. Regards, Ron