【By Observer Net, Ruan Jiaqi】

On July 7th local time, Hong Kong media "South China Morning Post" quoted informed sources saying that Australian Prime Minister Albanese will make his second official visit to China next week. In addition to regular topics such as economy and trade, he will also discuss the Darwin Port transaction during his visit.

According to informed sources, one of the key tasks for Albanese's trip is to explain Australia's position on Chinese enterprise investment to China, especially regarding the issue of ownership of Darwin Port, and the potential transactions that may cause controversy with government intervention.

Analysts told Hong Kong media that this is expected to be a "challenging" dialogue. Because after the U.S. took action against Chinese ports in the Panama Canal, China has been highly vigilant about the issue of overseas asset ownership.

Michael Feller, co-founder and chief strategist of Melbourne-based consulting firm Geopolitical Strategy, said that Albanese "hopes to ensure" that the Darwin Port transaction causes minimal disruption to the broader bilateral and economic relations between China and Australia.

Professor Zhou Weihuan from the University of New South Wales criticized that Australia needs to ensure its so-called "security concerns" are based on evidence, rather than just suspicion or political positions.

As the northernmost maritime facility in Australia, Darwin Port is considered strategically significant. In terms of trade, it is the closest Australian port to Asia and China; militarily, it is near the long-term bases of the Australian Defense Force and the U.S. forces rotating in Australia, with the U.S. Marines stationed in Darwin city for six months each year.

Back in 2015, when Chinese enterprises won the public bidding, it drew the "concern" of then-U.S. President Obama. Media statistics show that over the past 10 years, the Darwin Port operating project has undergone at least three political and security reviews without reason. However, multiple reviews by recent Australian governments have shown that there is no so-called "national security risk" in Darwin Port, and the 2023 investigation even concluded that "there is no need to cancel or change this lease."

However, in early this year during the election campaign, both the ruling party and the opposition in Australia revived the old issue of "rescinding the contract." After being re-elected in May, Albanese stated that he hopes Darwin Port will return to "Australian hands," even saying that if no buyer can be found, he would be willing to nationalize Darwin Port.

The Chinese position has always been consistent. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese Ambassador to Australia have pointed out that the relevant Chinese enterprises obtained the lease of Darwin Port through market methods, and their legitimate rights and interests should be fully protected. They urged Australia to objectively view the Darwin Port project and earnestly fulfill the contract commitments. Lianqiao Group also clearly stated "no intention to sell the port."

On May 22nd, Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian to Australia stated when answering questions about the Darwin Port issue, "It is morally inappropriate to rent it out when the port is losing money, and to reclaim it when the port is profitable."

Local time April 8, 2024, Darwin, Australia, panoramic view of the entrance to Darwin Port, Visual China

According to the "South China Morning Post", a source revealed that Albanese plans to arrive in Beijing, China around July 15. This trip aims to "send a friendly gesture" and promote the continuous improvement of bilateral relations.

Another person said that Albanese will also attend the opening of the third China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo (hereinafter referred to as "Chain Expo") in Beijing on July 16.

David Olsen, Chairman of the National Committee of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Hong Kong media that although China and Australia still have differences, Albanese's upcoming visit to China still sends out a "positive" signal.

He said, "Currently, the two countries are striving to address common challenges such as climate change, trade stability, and regional cohesion. At this moment, sustained high-level dialogue is crucial for planning a credible future (development) path."

Olsen also mentioned that Australian companies hope to cooperate with Chinese companies, "leveraging China's advantages in clean energy infrastructure, large-scale project delivery, and advanced manufacturing."

He added, "Both sides have increasing interest in building regional supply chains based on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), especially in green minerals."

Michael Feller of Geopolitical Strategy also said that Albanese hopes to push China to further invest in and purchase Australian minerals, "especially iron ore."

Data from German data research company Statista shows that in 2024, Australia was the largest supplier of iron ore to China, accounting for 74.3 million tons of China's total import of approximately 124 million tons.

The report states that the major energy companies in Australia have not yet publicly confirmed participation in the Beijing Chain Expo. There are reports that Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian mining giant, plans to participate, but the company has not responded to email inquiries.

Regarding the news that the Australian Prime Minister will visit China this summer, the Australian side responded that Albanese's international itinerary will be "released in the usual way."

On June 5th, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated at a regular press conference that there is currently no information to provide. China's position on developing Sino-Australian relations has always been clear. China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Australia, and promote the construction of a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524241294554825268/

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