Labor and Coalition plans to scrap a lease on Darwin Port held by a Chinese-based company have been condemned by Beijing.
The government and opposition have both pledged to buy back the port from its 99-year lease to Landbridge, regardless of who wins the election.
The Chinese foreign ministry warned against turning the lease into a political issue, stating that it could negatively impact the recently improved Australia-China relations following years of strain.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last weekend the government had been working “for some time” to get the port back into Australian hands.
Albanese also criticised the port’s sale in 2015.
According to the ministry, the escalation occurred as a consequence of the asset recycling program initiated by the Abbott government in 2014 budget. This program incentivized state and territory governments to sell off infrastructure assets.
Since the Albanese government was elected in May 2022, relations with China, the biggest market for Australian exporters, have steadily improved.
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Previously, trade tensions between the two nations escalated when the Chinese government imposed sanctions on Australian industries. This conflict arose as ties deteriorated due to the former Coalition government’s push for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and concerns of foreign interference.
The lost trade for Australian exports was worth an estimated $20 billion.
