Shipping companies began to abandon their registration in Hong Kong and re -register ships due to the pressure of the United States and China. About this with reference to the representatives of the carriers reported by Reuters.

According to Vesselsvalue, in January 2025, the number of ships under Hong Kong's flag decreased by more than eight percent, from 2580 to 2366 units. Those who have changed their registration are now listed in Singapore and on the Marshall Islands.

Some shipping companies carry out activities from Hong Kong or change flags on board and other companies develop action plans in the event of unforeseen circumstances. According to the sources of the publication, these measures are taken from concerns that their ships may be arrested by the Chinese government or must obey the US sanctions.

We do not want to be in the situation that China will ask our ship and the United States to target us from the other side, one of the leaders of the network operators explained.

The Hong Kong government noted that shipping companies tend to change the registration position. The relevant ministry promised that the jurisdiction “will continue to be an excellent international shipping center.”

Earlier, the United States increased taxes on goods from China by 10 to 20 percent. Such a step has been explained by “the Government of the PRC government to take measures to contain the synthetic opioid line, including Fentanil.” To deal with trade tightening, China filed a lawsuit in the World Trade Organization.

According to expert Mikhail Khazin, the United States tries to block China trade and restricted the release of China to Pacific will expand the US War. Khazin noted that the US's mission is to stop and not to do tens of thousands of ships from Prc. At the same time, China is aware of the threat, so the commercial vessels will be accompanied by Chinese destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.