Reclaiming Port of Darwin ‘could trigger China retaliation’

Anthony Albanese has been warned that his election commitment to end Chinese ownership of the Port of Darwin could trigger a fresh campaign of economic coercion from Beijing.

Anthony Albanese has vowed to end Chinese ownership of the Port of Darwin. Picture: ASCO

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Anthony Albanese has been warned that his election commitment to end Chinese ownership of the Port of Darwin could trigger a fresh campaign of economic coercion from Beijing, including on Australia’s $100bn iron ore trade.

In a pointed piece published as Mr Albanese continued his second trip to China as Prime Minister, Chinese social media influencer Lu Wenxing said reclaiming the Port of Darwin could trigger “countermeasures” from China.

“The Chinese side has made it clear that it will not accept any unilateral breach of contract, but at the same time it has shown an open and co-operative attitude,” Mr Lu, a former editor of Chinese propaganda outlet Voice of the Strait, wrote to his 500,000 followers.

“Can Albanese convince the Chinese side during this trip?

“If the Australian side insists on tearing up the lease agreement, the Chinese side may take countermeasures, such as restricting Australian companies’ market access in China or tightening imports of key resources such as iron ore.”

The Prime Minister downplayed the threat when asked about it by The Australian on Monday in Shanghai after he met senior figures of Australia’s iron ore sector and key Chinese steelmakers.

“We have a very clear position that we want the port to go to Australian ownership,” Mr Albanese told a press conference in Shanghai, saying he had not seen the piece by the Chinese commentator.

“We’ve been clear about it. We’ve been orderly about it. And we will go through that process.

“Governments cannot respond in policy terms to every time there’s an article written, or a tweet or a blog, and change their position.

“Good government has a position and advocates for it and implements it. And mine is a good government.”

Darwin port is one of the thorniest issues that could complicate Mr Albanese’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday.

China’s government has already made public protests about the Australian government’s commitment to end the 99-year lease of Chinese firm Landbridge.

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian, who attended the Shanghai press conference on Monday, has previously said Landbridge “deserves encouragement, not punishment”.

Most official state media coverage of the Shanghai leg of the Prime Minister’s trip has been glowing, focusing on the Australian leader’s efforts to shore up trade and economic ties with China.