China escalates diplomatic row with Australia over Darwin port control

China has issued a strong diplomatic warning to Australia over the latter's intention to take back control of the strategically important Port of Darwin, a key northern facility currently leased to a Chinese-owned company under a long-term agreement, reported Al Jazeera.

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The dispute further strains relations between Canberra and Beijing, already challenged by broader tensions on security and trade.

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, told reporters this week that Beijing views Australia’s push to reclaim the port as “no way to do business” and warned Canberra against altering the status of the lease, which has been in place since 2015. He complained that Australia wanted to reverse the arrangement: “When you're losing money, you want to lease it to a foreign company, and when it's making money, you want to take it back?”- a comment that encapsulates Beijing’s ire at the policy shift.