The U.S. Ambassador to Greece urges Greece to sell the port operation managed by a Chinese company at the port of Piraeus, sparking strong criticism from the Chinese side. Several Greek media outlets have focused on this dispute, stating that it is the "first time China has retaliated against the U.S. on port matters." The Greek political media website Parapolitika reported on the 19th, citing statements from several Greek political figures, that China's positive impact on port investments has been widely recognized.

Last week, the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt, stated in an interview with the Greek television station Antenna TV that he found the presence of the China COSCO Shipping Corporation at the port of Piraeus in southern Greece "regrettable." He mentioned that there are ways to "circumvent" this situation, such as increasing the throughput of other ports or selling the Port of Piraeus. Pyatt also emphasized that having American infrastructure is crucial to supporting Greece's development, which can increase the throughput of other ports and regions, thus "balancing" China's influence.

The website "ieidiseis" reported that in March of this year, the media had revealed that the U.S. government had pressured Greece to restrict Chinese activities at the Port of Piraeus, "which is undoubtedly related to the United States listing China COSCO Shipping as a 'military entity'." The report cited three informants who stated that the U.S. government is working to weaken China's global port network and hopes to place more strategic ports under Western control.

"The new U.S. Ambassador to Greece's baseless attacks during a media interview on Sino-Greek relations, particularly on Chinese companies investing and operating the Port of Piraeus, are not only a malicious slander against normal commercial cooperation between China and Greece but also a serious interference in Greece's internal affairs, filled with Cold War mentality and hegemonic logic," stated the "Chinese Embassy in Greece" WeChat account on the 19th. The embassy spokesperson said that Piraeus Port will always belong to the Greek people and should not be a tool for U.S. geopolitical confrontation or destabilizing regional prosperity and stability, nor should it be a pawn in geopolitics.

Public information indicates that the Port of Piraeus is one of the gateways for Asian goods to reach Europe. In 2016, under pressure from Greece's European creditors, Greece had to sell this ancient port.

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liana Zoukiou stated on the 18th: "The majority of the shares of the Port of Piraeus were transferred during the Greek debt crisis, where China was the only party to submit a bid, and the Greek government respects the agreements signed in the past."

Parapolitika, a Greek media outlet, reported that Makarios Lazaridis, the spokesperson for the New Democracy party, stated that in 2008, Greece granted the strategic concession of the Port of Piraeus to a Chinese company, and "the decision was crucial for the Greek economy at that time."

Another member of parliament, Dimitris Keridis, stated that there is no doubt about the success of China's investment in the Port of Piraeus. He mentioned that this cooperation "modernized and upgraded the Port of Piraeus, making it one of the most important ports in Europe," bringing various positive impacts to the national economy. Keridis also emphasized, "This successful investment should not be confused with Greece's geopolitical positioning."