Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on May 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleAustralia seeks to reclaim Darwin Port from Chinese control, citing national interest. The move faces criticism from China's ambassador.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - China's ambassador to Canberra has criticised the Australian government's intention to return Darwin Port to local ownership, saying the Chinese company running the strategically located northern port should not be punished.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in April during the election campaign that his government was working on a plan to force the sale of Darwin Port from its Chinese owner on national interest grounds.
Australia sold the commercial port on a 99-year lease to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015, a move that was criticised by the U.S. president at the time, Barack Obama. Around 2,000 U.S. Marines exercise for six months of the year in the northern city.
Ambassador Xiao Qian said Landbridge Group had invested in the port and contributed to the local economy, according to a statement on Sunday by the Chinese embassy.
"Such an enterprise and project deserves encouragement, not punishment. It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable," the statement said.
Albanese said in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview in April that his government wants the port to "be in Australian hands", and would directly intervene and buy the port if it was unable to find a private buyer.
Landbridge said last month the port was not for sale.
Australia is building up its northern military bases, which will host U.S. bombers and fighter jets on a rotational basis, as it increases defence cooperation with the United States.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Nia Williams)
Ambassador Xiao Qian criticized the Australian government's plan to return Darwin Port to local ownership, arguing that Landbridge Group's investment in the port should be encouraged rather than punished.
Australia sold the commercial port on a 99-year lease to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015, a decision that faced criticism from then U.S. President Barack Obama.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his government wants Darwin Port to be in Australian hands and is prepared to intervene and buy the port if necessary.
Landbridge announced last month that the port is not for sale, despite the Australian government's intentions to reclaim ownership.
Australia is strengthening its northern military bases, which will host U.S. bombers and fighter jets, as part of an increased defense cooperation with the United States.
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