Chinese authorities increased pressure on CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. over its plan to sell its Panama ports stake by sharing a second newspaper commentary attacking the deal.

The deal comes after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of the Panama Canal and end what he sees as China’s influence over the waterway critical to global trade.

The US$23 billion sale is not final, but needs no Chinese or Hong Kong approval, leaving CK Hutchison to decide whether to proceed, analysts say.