Chinese leader Xi Jinping is angry about a Hong Kong company’s plan to sell Panama Canal ports to a U.S.-led group, in part because the company didn’t seek Beijing’s approval in advance, people familiar with the matter said.

Las autoridades chinas comenzaron a investigar la venta por parte de CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. de sus negocios portuarios en el extranjero, según personas familiarizadas con el asunto, en medio de indicios de que Pekín no está contenta con que el conglomerado de Hong Kong se deshiciera de sus operaciones en Panamá bajo la presión de Estados Unidos.

Hong Kong's leader has waded into a controversy over a prominent conglomerate’s decision to sell its Panama Canal port assets to a consortium including American investment bank BlackRock Inc., a deal that has angered Beijing and highlights how escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington can leave the Chinese financial