Beijing warns Canberra over Darwin port takeover from Landbridge, says deal must be honoured
SYDNEY May 26 — China's ambassador in Australia has condemned a push to block a Chinese company running a strategically important Australian shipping port, calling it 'ethically questionable'.
The Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the northern port of Darwin in 2015, a widely criticised decision that led to stricter scrutiny of major infrastructure sales.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month said the port should be 'in Australian hands' and vowed to buy back control of the 'strategic asset'.
But ambassador Xiao Qian urged Canberra to honour its contract with Landbridge, a sprawling energy and infrastructure firm increasingly setting its sights beyond China.
'Such an enterprise and project deserves encouragement, not punishment,' he said, according to a transcript published on the Chinese embassy's website over the weekend.
'It is ethically questionable to lease the port when it was unprofitable and then seek to reclaim it once it becomes profitable.'
Albanese had criticised Australia's former conservative government for 'flogging off' the port to 'a company with links to the Chinese government'.
Darwin lies closest to Australia's Asian neighbours and has been used as a base for US Marines.
At the time of the agreement, then-US president Barack Obama reportedly complained that Washington had not been told of Australia's plan to do business with Landbridge. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
19 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Mushroom murder trial: Australian woman accused of killing three gives evidence
SYDNEY, June 2 — An Australian woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband's elderly relatives by serving them a lunch laced with poisonous mushrooms began giving evidence during her trial on Monday, in a case that has gripped the nation. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband, in a case that has gripped Australia. All four fell ill after a lunch of Beef Wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans, the court has heard. Prosecutors allege the accused laced the meal with highly poisonous death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, a town of around 6,000 people some 135km from Melbourne. Erin Patterson denies the charges, with her defence saying the deaths were a 'terrible accident'. Beginning her evidence towards the end of the day's session, Erin Patterson said on Monday her relationship with estranged husband Simon Patterson had been in difficulty shortly after they married in 2007. 'We could never communicate in a way that would make each of us feel heard and understood,' she told the court. She had also grown apart from Simon's parents, Donald and Gail, at the time of their deaths, she added. 'I had felt for some months that my relationship with the wider Patterson family, particularly Don and Gail, had a bit more distance or space put between us,' she said. Earlier on Monday the prosecution rested its case, following a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. Simon Patterson gave evidence earlier in the trial, characterising the relationship between him and the accused as strained at the time of the alleged murders. The trial, that began on April 29, has seen intense interest from Australian and international media, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, around two hours east of Melbourne, where the trial is being held. Erin Patterson is expected to resume her evidence on Tuesday, when the trial continues. — Reuters
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Sumo legend Hakuho to resign after stable scandal, say reports
TOKYO, June 2 — Retired sumo great Hakuho will quit the ancient Japanese sport following a row over the forced closure of his wrestling stable for physical abuse, reports said Monday. The Mongolian-born Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shuttered in April last year when one of his proteges was accused of bullying. Hakuho was also handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them. The future of Hakuho's stable is still unclear more than a year later, leading the 40-year-old to tender his resignation to the Japan Sumo Association, reports said. The reports said his resignation was accepted at an extraordinary board meeting in Tokyo. When contacted by AFP, the Japan Sumo Association declined to comment. Hakuho, who is currently in Mongolia according to posts he has made on social media, is expected to hold a news conference next week. Born Munkhbat Davaajargal, Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15 and made his sumo debut in 2001. He won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history. — AFP
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Airlines hit turbulence: IATA cuts 2025 outlook amid global headwinds
NEW DELHI, June 2 — Airlines on Monday revised down their traffic and profit forecasts for 2025, citing 'headwinds' for the global economy. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates fewer than five billion air journeys will take place this year, compared with the previously forecast 5.22 billion. 'The first half of 2025 has brought significant uncertainties to global markets,' Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General, told its annual general meeting in New Delhi. But he added: 'Considering the headwinds, it's a strong result that demonstrates the resilience that airlines have worked hard to fortify.' Cumulative airline profits will reach US$36 billion (RM153 billion) this year, US$600 million less than expected, IATA said. Commercial aviation revenues are expected to remain below the US$1 trillion forecast in the previous December projections, with IATA now reporting US$979 billion. Walsh, addressing IATA delegates, called for the aviation sector to be spared from increased tariffs — though he did not name US President Donald Trump, who launched a trade war in early April. While looking at profits, Walsh warned that 'perspective is critical' to put industry-wide figures into context, saying that per passenger, it was still a narrow margin. 'It's still a thin buffer and any new tax, increase in airport or navigation charge, demand shock or costly regulation will quickly put the industry's resilience to the test,' he said. 'Policymakers who rely on airlines as the core of a value chain that employs 86.5 million people and supports 3.9 percent of global economic activity, must keep this clearly in focus.' The organisation also expects 69 million tonnes of cargo to be transported by air this year, down from the 72.5 million previously expected. — AFP
