The bureaucrats also plan to close or merge 40% of the factories owned by China's unwieldy state tobacco monopoly.

ECONOMIST: Taking stock

It is publicly traded but 54%-owned by China's government.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Already, key port facilities on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the canal (Cristobal and Balboa) have been leased by Hutchison Whampoa, 10 percent of which is owned by China Resources Enterprises (100 percent of which is controlled by the Red Chinese government).

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Panama slipping into China's ready grasp?