By Lewis Jackson and Jenny Su BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese state media attacked Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison's plan to sell its ports near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group in a social media post on Saturday that was taken down minutes later.

The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has decided to verify the sale by the Hong Kong company CK Hutchison of two ports of the Panama Canal (Balboa and Cristobal) to a consortium of American investors led by BlackRock.

China's fury at the sale of Panama Canal ports to a US-led consortium reflects how container hubs have become prized currency as Beijing and Washington vie for global influence, analysts say. Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison this month sold 43 ports in 23 countries -- including operations in the vital Central American canal -- to a group led by giant asset manager BlackRock for $19 billion in cash.