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Alyssa Chen

Beijing has pledged to step in if Canberra commits to regaining control of a strategic port in northern Australia that is leased to a Chinese firm.
Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said on Wednesday that Beijing “has the obligation to take measures” to protect the legitimate rights of Chinese companies overseas if the port of Darwin were taken back through a forced sale, according to Australian media reports.
During last year’s successful re-election campaign, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Labor Party pledged to regain ownership of the port, which was leased in 2015 for 99 years to the Chinese Landbridge Group at A$506 million (US$351 million).
“We’ll see when it’s time for us to say something, do something, to reflect the Chinese government’s position, and to reflect that we have a view and determination to protect our Chinese company’s legitimate interests,” Xiao said.

He added the issue should be “properly managed” to show that Australia welcomed Chinese investment.
Also on Wednesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the Chinese firm acquired the lease through market means and “its legitimate rights and interests should be fully protected”.
According to Australia’s ABC News, the ambassador also questioned the motives of the Australian government.
“Starting from last year, Darwin Port stopped losing money and started to make money. It was at this juncture that suddenly we hear the government of Australia wants to take [it] back … so I really question the ethic value,” Xiao was quoted as saying.
“When you’re losing money, you want to lease it to a foreign company and when it’s making money, you want to take it back? That’s not the way to do business.”
It is not the first time Xiao has criticised Canberra’s pledge to return the strategic northern port to local ownership.
Albanese reiterated on Wednesday that his government wanted the port returned to Australian ownership.
“We are committed to making sure that that port goes back into Australian hands because that is in our national interest,” he said.
The port of Darwin is Australia’s closest major port to Southeast Asia and its major trading partners. It is also where the United States, Australia and other countries conduct joint exercises such as Exercise Talisman Sabre.
There has been discussion about certifying Darwin Port to host nuclear-powered warships and submarines under its Aukus pact with the US and Britain.
Since the early 2010s, US Marines have rotated through Darwin annually, with most marine contingents and their equipment entering through the port. Last year, a US submarine surfaced in Darwin, just metres from the port.


Ties between Beijing and Canberra have been improving since the 2022 election of Albanese, who has worked to ease economic tension with China, but the fate of Darwin Port has been a contentious point between the two sides.
In 2024, China was Australia’s biggest trading partner, with two-way trade in goods and services totalling A$312 billion.
However, in a move that disappointed beef producers from Australia and countries including Brazil and Argentina, Beijing announced a 55 per cent tariff on beef imports above quota levels to protect its domestic industry. It came into effect this month.


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China will step in if Australia moves to regain control of Darwin Port, envoy says

Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian says the Darwin Port issue should be “properly managed” to show that Australia welcomes Chinese investment. Photo: EPA-EFE

The lease of Darwin Port to Landbridge Group, a Chinese company, has been a point of contention in otherwise improving relations between China and Australia. Photo: Reuters

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People shop for beef at a supermarket in Fuzhou, Fujian province. China is kicking off 2026 with additional tariffs on beef imports exceeding specific quotas for major trading partners. Photo: Getty Images

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Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back


Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back.


China will step in if Australia moves to regain control of Darwin Port, envoy says

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back

Envoy Xiao Qian says Beijing ‘has the obligation to take measures’ if the port, leased to China for 99 years, is taken back