Anthony Albanese makes shock port vow ahead of big Xi Jinping meet
While speaking about the future of the industrial relationship between Australia and China on Monday, the Prime Minister was asked whether he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the Port of Darwin.
The reporter said an 'influential state media influence' from China had posted an essay on Mr Albanese's trip, focusing on the Port of Darwin.
The influencer warned that if Australia 'insists on tearing up the Port of Darwin contract, the Chinese side may take counter measures' such as 'restricting Australian market access in China or tightening imports of key resources.'
'We have a very clear position that we want the port to go into Australian ownership,' Mr Albanese said.
'We've been clear about it, orderly about it, and we will go through that process.
'I'm not sure who the blogger is … Governments cannot respond in policy terms to every time there is an article written, a tweet or a blog and change their position.'
Landbridge Group is the Chinese-owned operator that hold a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin, and it has frequently denied links to the Chinese military and the Chinese Communist Party.
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