Australia did not consult the United States about a decision to allow a Chinese company with links to the People's Liberation Army to lease the Port of Darwin for 99 years, intelligence sources say.
US officials only heard about the deal last month as they were returning from the annual Australia-US consultations on foreign affairs and defence. Darwin has become an important staging post for US Marine deployments in the region in the past three years.
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Laura Tingle is The Australian Financial Review's former political editor. She is now chief political correspondent for the ABC's 7.30 program. Connect with Laura on Facebook and Twitter.
