Chinese ambassador condemns Australian plan to buy back key port

China's Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has condemned Australia's push to revoke a 99-year lease on Darwin Port held by Chinese firm Landbridge Group, calling the move “ethically questionable.” The lease, signed in 2015, has been under scrutiny as geopolitical tensions rise and port logistics in supply chain operations become increasingly strategic.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently declared that Darwin Port considered a key shipping port and freight handling hub must be returned to "Australian hands" due to its strategic importance. The move reflects a global trend of nations reasserting control over critical infrastructure, especially as smart port and supply chain technologies evolve.

Landbridge, a diversified energy and infrastructure company, obtained the lease when the port was reportedly unprofitable. Ambassador Xiao criticized the attempt to reclaim it now that it has turned profitable, urging Canberra to honor the original agreement. “Such enterprises should be encouraged, not punished,” he said.

The debate comes at a time when countries like India are grappling with India port congestion, which has disrupted trade flows and highlighted the importance of efficient port operations in global supply chain management.

The Darwin Port controversy underscores the rising strategic importance of maritime infrastructure in modern geopolitics and trade.