Australia pushes back: Reclaiming Darwin port from China
Australia is seeking to regain control over the port in Darwin, which is currently leased by the Chinese firm Landbridge. The government has been criticizing the 2015 agreement for years and is now accelerating actions, despite tensions with Beijing and pressure from Washington, according to Bloomberg.
Australia plans to withdraw from the controversial deal made nearly a decade ago, under which the Chinese company Landbridge Group obtained a 99-year lease of the strategic port in Darwin.
Although the decision was made by the Northern Territory government in 2015, the issue has been stirring emotions for years—not only in Australia but also in the United States, which has an important training facility nearby, according to Bloomberg.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles stressed in an interview with Bloomberg TV that such infrastructure shouldn't be managed by a company under Chinese government control. He noted that the current administration has had reservations about the arrangement from the outset and is actively pursuing a change in the port’s ownership.
There is a warning from Beijing
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to regain control over Darwin even before the May elections.
Although Australian-Chinese relations have improved since 2022, Beijing is warning against a unilateral termination of the agreement. China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, reminded that Landbridge has invested substantial resources into the port.
Marles also addressed U.S. expectations regarding increased Australian defense spending. He mentioned that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had politely encouraged them to take this approach, while also pointing out that Australia is developing additional partnerships beyond its ties with the United States.
The Australian minister also issued sharp criticism of Beijing’s actions, stating that China is carrying out the most extensive conventional military buildup since the end of World War II, all while lacking strategic clarity and offering no guarantees.
He added that it is in this context that Australia has decided to increase its military capabilities to an unprecedented level.
