Chinese envoy warns of trade-ties risk over forced Darwin Port sale

Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 29-Jan-26

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qia, has used his annual press conference in Canberra to warn of likely repercussions if the federal government forces Landbridge to relinquish its 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin. He argued that Beijing has an obligation to protect the legitimate overseas interests of Chinese companies, and notes that Landbridge has invested significantly in the port since being granted the lease in 2015. Xiao indicated that future Chinese investment in Australia could be affected if Landbridge is required to sell its lease. The company is privately owned, but a parliamentary inquiry in 2020 concluded that it has extensive links to both the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s Liberation Army.

CORPORATES
PORT OF DARWINLANDBRIDGE GROUP COMPANY LIMITEDCOMMUNIST PARTY (CHINA)PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY OF CHINA