Thread by @GeringTuvia

Chinese CEO of the new Haifa Gulf Port, Miao Qiang, tries to reassure the Israeli (and American) reader: "We are a public company, the government does not interfere in our work - we're just doing business."

Translated excerpts below:
1/n

calcalist.co.il/local_news/art…

"We hired about 60 locals, as well as 20 Chinese workers who are guiding the Israelis. We are currently pleased with the local workers, who are meeting our targets.

"We want to compete with firms like TIL and DP World. After SIPG exited the country, we embarked on a three-pronged strategy to become the largest in China, the largest in East Asia, and a leading global company. Israel was our first stop, but it was far from our last."

Q: Many Israelis are concerned that a Chinese firm owns strategic infrastructure. Is it justified?

"First and foremost, the Gulf Port Company is an Israeli company in which SIPG invests, not a Chinese one. We must abide by all of Israel's laws and regulations."

At this point, Yoav Zuckerman, the company's most senior Israeli executive, entered the conversation, saying, "The police and the Shin Bet (internal security agency) are the ones who fund the security officer at the port...

"We are an Israeli company governed by Israeli law. Some people think that we can simply close the gate and turn it into a Chinese base, but that's an impossible scenario."

Q: When will we see the Gulf port operating at full capacity?
"Currently only half of the cranes are operating, but the port will start operating fully in December. In three to four years the port will reach a peak output of one million TEU per year."

"We've already assisted the Israeli market. Until three months ago, there were a lot of empty containers in Israel's port logistics areas. We have emptied 12,000 empty containers through the port in recent months, lowering transportation costs from East Asia to Israel."

"Israel's location, like Singapore's, makes it ideal as a global transshipment hub, serving as a natural bridge between East and West and the entire Med region", with shipments from China & Japan reaching the Med "without passing through the Suez Canal."

Concerning the rail project to connect the port to Jordan and then to the Gulf via KSA: "We have an agreement with the Israeli gov, and we have fulfilled all of our obligations. However, the Israeli gov fails to keep its promises... they're now saying it'll take at least 3 years"

"Your system is the source of the problem. In China, first we do, then we make adjustments... In Western countries, it appears that it is more important that the plan be nice and pretty - but real life doesn't work that way; it's just paperwork."
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