CHINA's ambassador to Canberra has criticised the Australian government's intention to return Darwin Port to local ownership, saying the chinese company running the northern port should not be punished.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month during the election campaign that his government was working on a plan to force the sale of Darwin Port from its Chinese owner on national interest grounds.
Australia sold the commercial port on a 99-year lease to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015, a move that was criticised by the US president at the time, Barack Obama.
Around 2,000 US Marines exercise for six months of the year in the northern city, according to Reuters.
Ambassador Xiao Qian said Landbridge Group had invested in the port and contributed to the local economy, according to a statement by the Chinese embassy.
'Such an enterprise and project deserve encouragement, not punishment. It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable,' the statement said.
An Australian government spokesperson said the port was not only vital to the region's economic success, but 'also a critical infrastructure asset of national importance'.
'The Australian government is working closely with the Northern Territory Government on next steps,' the spokesperson said in a statement.
Mr Albanese said in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview in April that his government wants the port to 'be in Australian hands' and would directly intervene and buy the port if it was unable to find a private buyer.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last month during the election campaign that his government was working on a plan to force the sale of Darwin Port from its Chinese owner on national interest grounds.
Australia sold the commercial port on a 99-year lease to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015, a move that was criticised by the US president at the time, Barack Obama.
Around 2,000 US Marines exercise for six months of the year in the northern city, according to Reuters.
Ambassador Xiao Qian said Landbridge Group had invested in the port and contributed to the local economy, according to a statement by the Chinese embassy.
'Such an enterprise and project deserve encouragement, not punishment. It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable,' the statement said.
An Australian government spokesperson said the port was not only vital to the region's economic success, but 'also a critical infrastructure asset of national importance'.
'The Australian government is working closely with the Northern Territory Government on next steps,' the spokesperson said in a statement.
Mr Albanese said in an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview in April that his government wants the port to 'be in Australian hands' and would directly intervene and buy the port if it was unable to find a private buyer.
SeaNews Turkey
