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.

Shares of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison sank after a critical commentary by a Chinese state-owned newspaper about the $22.8 billion sale.

China called the new plan for American investment firm Blackrock to buy two ports in the Panama Canal from a Hong Kong-based company "spineless groveling" and "a betrayal." The nearly $23 billion deal was considered a way to assuage concerns from president trump that China is quote "running" the canal.