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.

HONG KONG -- Chinese state media escalated criticism of CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based conglomerate owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing's family, arguing that its agreement to sell Panama Canal port assets to a consortium led by U.S. investment firm BlackRock is unpatriotic.

The Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison’s planned sale of ports in Panama to a group led by BlackRock, the American finance giant, is under fire from Beijing.