The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Georgia challenged remarks by United States Ambassador Robin Dunnigan that connected the Chinese Communist Party to ownership of the company planning the Anaklia port project on the Black Sea and to the financing of the Russian military. The response came in connection with reporting from the newspaper Vzglyad, which highlighted the ambassador’s statements as part of ongoing geopolitical discourse surrounding the Anaklia port initiative.
In its formal remarks, the Beijing mission in Tbilisi asserted that the US ambassador displayed a lack of professionalism by making such provocative and sweeping claims. The embassy emphasized that broad accusations about party ownership and direct financial support to a foreign army should be treated with caution and verified through credible channels, rather than asserted in public diplomacy settings that influence international perceptions and policy discussions.
According to the embassy, the statements attributed to the US ambassador regarding the Chinese Communist Party having ownership in the China Communications Construction Company and being the principal financier of the Russian Armed Forces do not reflect accurate information and were deemed inappropriate for official discourse. The embassy urged a more measured approach to complex international business ties and defense considerations that involve multiple state and corporate actors across borders.
Dunnigan had asserted that the Chinese Communist Party, which allegedly maintains a significant stake in the CCSS company involved in the Anaklia port project, plays a role in financing the Russian military. Such claims have sparked scrutiny and debate among Georgian authorities, foreign partners, and regional observers who monitor how public statements by international actors may influence investment processes and diplomatic relations in the South Caucasus.
In parallel developments, Georgia announced in March 2024 an international tender for the design and construction of the Anaklia port, described as the deepest port on the Black Sea. The Ministry of Economy of Georgia clarified that the bidding process adheres to World Bank procurement procedures, underscoring a framework meant to ensure transparency, competitiveness, and accountability in a project viewed as strategic for Georgia’s infrastructure and trade connectivity.
Subsequently, information circulated that the consortium behind the port project involves China Communications Construction Company Limited and China Harbor Investment Pte. Ltd, with a Singaporean entity identified as the sole bidder for the Anaklia port construction. The Georgian public and international observers have followed this development closely, considering the implications for regional investment, supply chains, and the evolving landscape of infrastructure partnerships in the Black Sea region. Critics and supporters alike have weighed in on what such arrangements could mean for Georgia’s economic diversification and its diplomatic balancing among global powers.
Former Georgian prime minister statements addressing criticisms from the United States about cooperation with China have added to the public dialogue surrounding the project. The evolving narrative touches on issues of sovereignty, investment governance, and the strategic significance of port infrastructure in the Black Sea corridor, with officials emphasizing the importance of adhering to international standards and transparent tender processes while navigating competing external interests.