According to Bloomberg, on May 31st local time, Richard Marles, Australia's Minister for Defence, said that the Australian government has always opposed China's operation of Darwin Port, and the behavior of seeking a new buyer was not subject to additional pressure from the Trump administration of the United States. Marles claimed in an interview with Bloomberg during the Shangri-La Dialogue that handing over this infrastructure to a Chinese state-owned enterprise is inappropriate, "We are working hard to find a better solution regarding the ownership structure of this port." The Albanese government promised during the Australian election campaign to regain the operating rights of Darwin Port held by China's Landbridge Group. In 2015, the Northern Territory (NT) government of Australia signed a lease agreement worth 506 million Australian dollars with China's Landbridge Group, with a lease term of 99 years. The report stated that this move has drawn criticism from some politicians in Australia and the United States, as the U.S. uses nearby military training facilities. Previously, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian answered journalists' questions regarding the Darwin Port issue. He emphasized that the Chinese side has always maintained communication with the federal government and the Northern Territory government of Australia through diplomatic channels. I would like to stress that first, ten years ago, the lease agreement for Darwin Port signed by China’s Landbridge Group and the Northern Territory government was obtained through an open bidding process, fully complying with Australian laws and market rules. Second, over the past decade, the Landbridge Group has made substantial investments in maintaining and building infrastructure at Darwin Port, optimizing operations and management, and expanding customer resources, bringing significant changes to the port. It has helped turn the port's operations around from losses to profits, making positive contributions to the local socio-economic development. Such enterprises and projects should be encouraged rather than punished. It is morally inappropriate to rent out the port when it is losing money and then reclaim it when it becomes profitable. Third, the relevant lease is a commercial contract. We hope that the Australian side can view the Darwin Port project objectively, earnestly fulfill their solemn commitments to the contract, and respect the autonomous decisions made by enterprises based on developmental needs. Fourth, China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners, and mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation serve the common interests of both sides. We hope that the federal government and the Northern Territory government of Australia can create a fair, transparent, and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Australia. On April 7th, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized at the regular press conference that we urge the Australian side to provide a fair, non-discriminatory, and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Australia. They should not generalize the concept of national security, nor politicize normal commercial cooperation. This article is an exclusive contribution by Observer Network, and unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510795502833680936/ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Please express your opinions by clicking the 'Top' or 'Bottom' buttons below.