China will act to defend its companies’ interests if Australia forcibly buys back control of the strategic northern port of Darwin, Beijing’s ambassador has warned. China’s Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the port in 2015, a widely criticised decision that led to stricter scrutiny of infrastructure sales. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised last year to buy back control, criticising the lease as short-sighted for both economic and national security reasons. If Landbridge is obliged to give up the lease, “then we have an obligation to take measures to protect the Chinese company’s interest — that is our position,” ambassador Xiao Qian told Australian media on Wednesday.

Full report : China’s ambassador warns Australia on buyback of key port.