During his week-long official trip to China, Albanese has prioritized discussions on tourism and trade relationships, emphasizing his achievements in reinstating robust ties. However, the prime minister’s campaign promise to revoke the 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin from the Chinese company Landbridge has already raised alarm in China and could become a contentious issue. Further complications may arise from Australia’s views on Taiwan and China’s military drills near the Australian coast.

“I really don’t think the Chinese will take that step. We know the impact of China’s economic pressure in this country. Unfortunately, it backfired on China,” Albanese remarked on the show Today.

“They hit us on on six key export industries under the Morrison government. Now all of those are off at the moment.

“I would have thought that the Chinese do not want to get back into that kind of punitive trade behaviour at this particular time.”

Curran queried the government’s motivation over the issue, saying two previous reviews had concluded there was no serious strategic concern over the Landbridge lease.

“The sensitivity is twofold. It’s about Australia keeping critical infrastructure in Australian hands,” he said.

“But I think it’s also more about how close this port is to the US Marines that are rotating through Darwin each year.”