China invested $24B in 168 ports, study reveals dual-use concern

China has invested approximately $23.4 billion in 168 ports across 90 countries over the past quarter-century, according to a comprehensive study released Wednesday by AidData, a research lab at William & Mary University . The report, titled "Anchoring Global Ambitions," documents 363 Chinese loan- and grant-financed projects between 2000 and 2025, spanning low-, middle-, and high-income nations .

Global Distribution and Strategic Patterns

The funding is "almost evenly split" between high-income and developing countries, with 45.1% of the portfolio—worth $10.8 billion—supporting 29 port locations across 20 wealthy nations including Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brunei . Top recipients include Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port ($1.97 billion), Australia's Port of Newcastle ($1.32 billion), Cameroon's Autonomous Port of Kribi ($1.17 billion), and Israel's Haifa Port ($1.13 billion) . In the last two years alone, China committed $614 million in new financing for 11 ports worldwide.

Naval Activity and Dual-Use Concerns

The study examined Chinese naval activity at financed facilities, finding that port calls, hospital ship visits, and joint exercises have occurred at more than half of the ports where Chinese entities also serve as owners or operators . "There is substantially less Chinese naval activity in Chinese-financed port facilities that are not owned or operated by Chinese entities," the report noted. Chinese state-owned financiers frequently support equipment purchases from Chinese companies like Nuctech and ZPMC, with $4.7 billion committed to projects including such supplies . Researchers also identified 19 Chinese-financed mines within 500 kilometers of Chinese-financed seaports, suggesting co-location of strategic assets.