Chinese ambassador condemns Australian plan to buy back key port

SYDNEY: China's ambassador to Australia has sharply criticized moves to block a Chinese firms long-term lease on a strategically vital Darwin port, describing the efforts as “ethically questionable".

Landbridge Group secured a 99-year lease on Darwin Port in 2015, a deal that was heavily criticized at the time and ultimately led to Australia tightening its policies on foreign purchases of major infrastructure.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently declared that the port should be “in Australian hands” and committed to regaining control of what he called a “strategic asset.”

However, Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian pressed the Australian government to respect its agreement with Landbridge, a diversified energy and infrastructure company that has been expanding its global operations.

"Such an enterprise and project deserves encouragement, not punishment," Xiao remarked, as quoted in a transcript from the Chinese embassy's website over the weekend.

He added, "It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable."

Albanese has criticized the previous conservative administration for "flogging off" the port to "a company with links to the Chinese government".

Darwin's strategic location as being Australia’s northernmost port close to Asia has made it a key base for US Marines. When the lease was signed, then US President Barack Obama reportedly expressed frustration that Washington had not been consulted about the deal.