China accuses US of interfering in Greece over Piraeus port

China has launched a sharp diplomatic rebuke against the United States, accusing American officials of attempting to undermine Sino-Greek relations through inappropriate interference. The controversy centers on the Chinese-operated Port of Piraeus, with Beijing condemning recent remarks by US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle suggesting Athens should consider selling the strategic facility.

Diplomatic Confrontation Over Strategic Port

The Chinese Embassy in Athens issued a formal statement expressing "strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition" to the American diplomat's comments. The embassy characterized Guilfoyle's remarks as "malicious defamation of normal Sino-Greek commercial cooperation" and "a serious interference in Greece's internal affairs." The statement further accused the United States of employing "a Cold War mentality and hegemonic logic" that violates fundamental diplomatic ethics.

Defending a "Successful Model" of Cooperation

Chinese officials vigorously defended their investment in Piraeus as a mutually beneficial partnership that has contributed significantly to the port's development. The embassy statement described the Chinese involvement as "a successful model of cooperation between the two countries" and warned that American efforts to persuade Greece to terminate its contractual obligations represented "a typical example of imposing its own thinking on others" that threatens regional stability.

Substantial Chinese Investment at Stake

The current dispute involves substantial Chinese financial commitment to Greek infrastructure. Chinese state-owned company COSCO initially secured a 35-year concession to operate key sections of the port in 2008, followed by acquiring a 51% stake in the Piraeus Port Authority in 2016 for €280.5 million. This investment expanded to a 67% controlling interest in 2021 through an additional €86 million investment, creating one of China's most significant European infrastructure holdings and raising the strategic stakes in the current diplomatic confrontation.