A Danish giant's decision to pull out of Kaohsiung is seen as a huge blow to the port's future as China gains ground.The world's largest boxship player has denied it is abandoning its operations in Taiwan in order to concentrate on the growing Chinese market.

Maersk Line told TradeWinds that the decision to pull out of Kaohsiung Port was made as part of a global strategy, which considers each port as a "unique situation".

Tensions have been running high at Kaohsiung since APM Terminals handed over control of piers 76 and 77 to South Korea's Hanjin Pacific at the end of January.