They’re going to build a base that is thousands of miles away from their country, with a supply line that runs through seas controlled by potential enemies like Australia, India, and Vietnam. In the event of war the base would be untenable and useless.
It’s a distraction.
Correct, these are just click bait stupid articles.
China has the management contract for the Panama canal..so they won’t have to go around the cape...but none the less your observation is valid.